Today I learned

[andrewducker]

That capital punishment was abolished in the UK in 1998.

Pub quizzes - useful for all sorts of things!

Comments

[azalemeth.livejournal.com]

Gosh. I never knew that. Was it related to the Human Rights bill?

[andrewducker]

Looks that way:
http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/timeline.html

[henriksdal.livejournal.com]

Yaay I totally knew that already! I am shocked at what uselss knowledge lies in the depths of my brain.

[loveandgarbage.livejournal.com]

A friend who is a PF was working in Aberdeen in 1997. There was a case involving a problem on board a ship which could have been categorised as piracy. The criminal procedure rules require you to provide a statutory notice of possible sentences (detailing maximum sentences). He prepared one stating various fines or prison sentences for the minor offences finishing with, a note that if convicted of piracy, maximum sentence "DEATH". His boss vetoed it - but technically the accused could have got off for not receiving appropriate notice of possible sentences ;-)

[jccw.livejournal.com]

Well, it was abolished in Wisconsin in 1852 or so... What took you so long?

[andrewducker]

Well, we mostly abolished it in the 60s, but held onto it for Treason and Piracy - although it was never actually used.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

Wow, I thought it still existed for treason and arson in Her Majesty's dockyards. Good to know. *Torches a battleship*