Capital punishment in the Cook Islands
Encyclopedia
Capital punishment in the Cook Islands
, a state in free association
with New Zealand
, was officially part of the legal system until 2007, although had never actually been put into practice.
Under Cook Islands law, capital punishment only ever applied to the crime of treason
, for which it was the automatic sentence. This was defined as participation in a war against the Cook Islands or New Zealand, an attempt to overthrow the Cook Islands government, or an attempt to harm the Queen of New Zealand. The laws regarding capital punishment were based on New Zealand law at the time, although New Zealand later abolished capital punishment. The Cook Islands announced the removal of its provisions for capital punishment in 2007, without ever having put them into use.
The chosen method of execution in the Cook Islands was hanging
.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
, a state in free association
Associated state
An associated state is the minor partner in a formal, free relationship between a political territory with a degree of statehood and a nation, for which no other specific term, such as protectorate, is adopted...
with New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, was officially part of the legal system until 2007, although had never actually been put into practice.
Under Cook Islands law, capital punishment only ever applied to the crime of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, for which it was the automatic sentence. This was defined as participation in a war against the Cook Islands or New Zealand, an attempt to overthrow the Cook Islands government, or an attempt to harm the Queen of New Zealand. The laws regarding capital punishment were based on New Zealand law at the time, although New Zealand later abolished capital punishment. The Cook Islands announced the removal of its provisions for capital punishment in 2007, without ever having put them into use.
The chosen method of execution in the Cook Islands was hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
.
External links
- Crimes Act 1969 (which allows the death sentence to be imposed)
- Criminal Procedure Act 1980-1981 (which sets out the method of execution)
- Capital punishment removed