This case concerns six issues consisting of the mandatory nature of the death penalty, the process for granting amnesty, pardon, or commutation of sentence, delays in criminal proceedings, deficiencies in treatment and condition of detentions, due process violations, and denial of access to legal aid, all in connection with the criminal proceedings resulting from the alleged victims' murder convictions in Trinidad and Tobago. Due to the similarities in the cases, the Inter-American Court ordered the joinder of the Hilaire, Constantine et al. and Benjamin et al. cases, therefore, this case involves thirty-one separate petitioners. This case is of particular interest because Trinidad and Tobago did not appear before or responded to the Court after it was notified of the Court's decision. The Court found that the State violated the American Convention on Human Rights.
Case Summary: Hilaire, Constantine and Benjamin et al. v. Trinidad and Tobago, Case Summary