Edward Fitzgerald QC successful in important case on the right of those facing capital punishment to have the right to counsel of their choice

Edward Fitzgerald QC won an important case on the right of those facing capital punishment to have the right to counsel of their choice.  The Privy Council overturned a decision of the Court of Appeal and laid down new guidelines to seek to ensure that Defendants would not go unrepresented in capital cases.  They also found the sentence had been fixed in an unfair manner because the Court of Appeal did not afford an opportunity to the Appellant to address them on the length of any fixed term sentence if the life sentence was set aside.

Edward Fitzgerald QC worked with the Death Penalty Project, in-house counsel Amanda Clift-Matthews and local counsel Martin Lundy II of Callenders & Co, Bahamas.  Saul Lehrfreund of the DPP described it as “a fantastic outcome”. 

The full judgment from the Privy Council is available here.