Boyce v R

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Boyce v R is a 2004 Privy Council decision from Barbados about the death penalty for murder. Lennox Boyce and Jeffrey Joseph challenged a law that automatically imposes the death sentence for murder. The Privy Council said that while a mandatory death penalty can violate the constitution in some cases, the constitution cannot invalidate laws that existed before it. Because the death penalty provision was in force before Barbados’ constitution, it must remain valid. The ruling follows earlier Privy Council cases (Hughes, Fox, and Reyes) and was issued on the same day as a similar decision in Matthew v S for Trinidad and Tobago. The case was decided on 7 July 2004 and is reported as [2004] UKPC 32. Prior action: Court of Appeal of Barbados. Keywords: capital punishment; inhuman or degrading punishment.