The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 54 (art. 54)
of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as "the convention"),
Having regard to the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
in the Weeks case, delivered on 2 March 1987 and 5 October 1988 and
transmitted the same days to the Committee of Ministers;
Recalling that the case originated in an application against the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland lodged with the
European Commission of Human Rights on 6 April 1982 under Article 25
(art. 25) of the convention by Mr Robert Malcolm Weeks, a British
citizen, who complained that his re-detention in June 1977, after his
release on licence while serving a sentence of life imprisonment, was
not in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1 (art. 5-1), of the
convention and that, contrary to Article 5, paragraph 4 (art. 5-4), of
the convention, he was unable to challenge the lawfulness of his
re-detention before a court or to have periodic reviews of his
detention at reasonable intervals throughout his imprisonment;
Recalling that the case was brought before the Court by the Commission
on 14 March 1985;
Whereas in its judgment of 2 March 1987 the Court held:
- by sixteen votes to one, that there had been no breach of
Article 5, paragraph 1 (art. 5-1);
- by thirteen votes to four, that there had been a breach of
Article 5, paragraph 4 (art. 5-4);
- unanimously, that the question of the application of Article 50
(art. 50) of the convention was not ready for decision;
Whereas in its judgment of 5 October 1988 the Court, having been
informed of an agreement reached by the Government of the United
Kingdom and the applicant concerning the latter's claim for costs and
expenses and having found that the agreement was of an equitable
nature, took note of the agreement and decided unanimously to strike
the case out of its list as far as the applicant's claim for costs and
expenses was concerned;
Whereas under the above-mentioned agreement the Government of the
United Kingdom was to pay to the applicant, in full and final
settlement of his claim for costs and expenses, the sum of £2 500 less
the amounts received from the Council of Europe by way of legal aid;
Whereas in the same judgment of 5 October 1988 the Court unanimously:
- held that the United Kingdom was to pay to the applicant the sum of
£8 000 for damage;
- rejected the remainder of the claim for just satisfaction;
Having regard to the Rules adopted by the Committee of Ministers
concerning the application of Article 54 (art. 54) of the convention;
Having invited the Government of the United Kingdom to inform it of
the measures which had been taken in consequence of the judgments,
having regard to its obligation under Article 53 (art. 53) of the
convention to abide by them;
Whereas, during the examination of the case by the Committee of
Ministers, the Government of the United Kingdom gave the Committee the
information set out in the appendix to this resolution;
Having satisfied itself that the Government of the Unitoed Kingdom has
paid to the applicant the sums provided for in the judgment of
5 October 1988 and in the agreement referred to therein,
Declares, after having taken note of the information supplied by the
Government of the United Kingdom, that it has exercised its functions
under Article 54 (art. 54) of the convention in this case.
Appendix to Resolution DH (89) 18
Information provided by the Government of the United Kingdom during
the examination of the Weeks case before the Committee of Ministers
Having regard to the jurisprudence of the Court of Appeal which
provides that offences for which life sentences are imposed must be
serious offences, it is unlikely that in future, a life sentence would
be imposed in a case comparable to that of Mr Weeks.
The sums of £8 000, for damage, and £1 793.33, for costs and expenses,
have been paid to the applicant.