SAMOA

CRIMES (ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY)
AMENDMENT ACT 2004

Arrangement of Provisions

1. Short title and commencement
2. Abolition of death penalty

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2004, No. 7

AN ACT to amend the Crimes Ordinance 1961 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1972 to abolish the death penalty and for related purposes.

[21st January 2004]

BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in parliament assembled as follows:

1. Short title and commencement - (1) This Act may be cited as the Crimes (Abolition of Death Penalty) Amendment Act 2004 and the relevant provisions of this Act shall be read with and form part of the Crimes Ordinance 1961 (the Principal Ordinance).

(2) The relevant provisions of this Act shall be read with and form part of the Criminal Procedure Act 1972.

(3) This Act shall commence on the date of assent by the Head of State.

(4) Notice of commencement of this Act shall be published in Samoan and English in the Savali and one other newspaper circulating in Samoa.

2. Abolition of death penalty - (1) Section 28 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the words "is liable upon conviction thereof to suffer death" and substituting the following words:

"shall upon conviction be imprisoned for life."

(2) Section 66 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the words "thereof be sentenced to death" and substituting the following words:

""be imprisoned for life".

(3) The Criminal Procedure Act 1972 is amended by:

(a) deleting the heading "Death" after the word "Punishments" following section 119;

(b) repealing sections 120 and 121; and

(c) repealing the first Schedule.

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The Crimes (Abolition of Death Penalty) Amendment Act 2004
is administered in the Ministry of the Prime Minister