PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PENDING EXECUTION OF DAVID HICKS (20 April 1998)

That this House notes with concern the case of David Hicks, a poor black man under sentence of death in Huntsville, Texas, for the murder of his grandmother; notes that Mr Hicks insists upon his innocence and that the only evidence against him was a controversial interpretation of DNA evidence; notes that the prosecution refused a defence expert access to the full DNA evidence until a few hours before the start of the trial; notes the inadequacy of the lawyer appointed by the court to defend Mr Hicks; notes that when challenged about his refusal to complain about the conduct of the prosecution, Mr Hicks' counsel allegedly replied '...I can't do that. I have got to live with these people'; notes that Mr Hicks has so far survived only because of the generosity of pen-friends in Europe who hired an attorney to make representations on his behalf; and calls on the State of Texas to grant Mr Hicks a new trial at which he is adequately represented and all the relevant facts are before the court.

Sponsored by:
Mr Chris Mullin (Labour)