Guyana changes hanging law

The Guyanase parliament has approved an amendment to its criminal laws abolishing the mandatory death penalty for murder.



The death penalty can still be imposed on a person found guilty of certain homicides.



However, judges now also have the option of sentencing those found guilty of murder to terms of imprisonment.



There are over 40 people on death row in Guyana and more than 50 awaiting trial for murder.



The last execution was in 1997.