62 physical or moral integrity and by subjecting him to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment. Contentions of the Representatives of the Alleged Victims 193) The victims’ representatives argued that if at the time the crime was committed, Trinidad and Tobago had a classification system for murder similar to that adopted in Jamaica under its Amendment to the Offences Against the Person Act of 1992, Joey Ramiah would not have faced capital punishment, but rather would have been sentenced for a lesser crime. 194) In addition, the representatives stated that before being condemned to death, Joey Ramiah did not have an opportunity to present evidence of mitigating factors to any court, tribunal or other body with jurisdiction to grant him amnesty, pardon or commutation of sentence according to the dictates of Article 4(6) of the Convention. 195) Finally, the representatives stated that the automatic imposition of the "mandatory death penalty" in the case of Joey Ramiah constitutes a violation of Articles 2, 4(1), 4(2), 4(6), 5(1), 5(2), 7(5) and 8(1) of the American Convention. * * * Assessment of the Court 196) In an Order dated May 25, 1999, the Court directed Trinidad and Tobago to take all necessary measures to preserve the life of Joey Ramiah, among others (supra para. 29), so that his case could continue being processed before the interAmerican system, specifically before the Commission. 145 This request was reiterated by the Court and its President in later Orders. 146 197) Despite the Provisional Measures expressly ordered by the Court, the State executed Joey Ramiah on June 4, 1999. On June 7, 1999, the Commission advised the Court of this execution. 147 Despite having been duly notified by the Court, the State claimed that it had not received any order related to the adoption of protective measures in favour of Joey Ramiah. 148 198) The Court finds that the execution of Joey Ramiah by Trinidad and Tobago constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life. This situation is aggravated 145 Cf. I/A Court H.R., James et al. Provisional Measures. Order of May 25, 1999. Series E No. 2, Operative Paragraph 2(b). 146 Cf. I/A Court H.R., James et al. Provisional Measures. Order of June 14, 1998, August 29, 1998 and May 25, 1999. Series E No. 2. 147 Cf. I/A Court H.R., James et al. Provisional Measures. Order of August 16, 2000. Series E No. 3, having seen 1 and 4. 148 Statement from the State of September 4, 2000, in which it presented information about the circumstances that led to the execution of Joey Ramiah, Cf. I/A Court H.R., James et al. Provisional Measures. Order of November 24, 2000. Series E No. 3, having seen 3.

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