An Act to abolish capital punishment in the case of persons convicted in Great Britain of murder or convicted of murder or a corresponding offence by court-martial and, in connection therewith, to make further provision for the punishment of persons so convicted.
[8th November 1965]
Extent Information
E1For extent of this Act in relation to Northern Ireland see s. 3(3)
(1)No person shall suffer death for murder, and a person convicted of murder shall F1. . . be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
F2(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)For the purpose of any proceedings on or subsequent to a person’s trial on a charge of capital murder, that charge and any plea or finding of guilty of capital murder shall be treated as being or having been a charge, or a plea or finding of guilty, of murder only; and if at the commencement of this Act a person is under sentence of death for murder, the sentence shall have effect as a sentence of imprisonment for life.
F3(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F4(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(1) repealed (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(4), 168, Sch. 12 Pt. I (with Sch. 11 paras. 1, 2)
F2S. 1(2) repealed (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(2), Sch. 37 Pt. 8
F3S. 1(4) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
F4S. 1(5) repealed (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(4), 168, Sch. 12 Pt. I (with Sch. 11 paras. 1, 2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 1(1)(2)(3) repealed (S.) except so far as relating to courts-martial, by Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), Sch. 10 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F5S. 2 repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), Sch. 7 Pts. I, II
(1)This Act may be cited as the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965.
(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6
F7(3)This Act F7... shall not extend to Northern Ireland.
(4)This Act shall come into force on the day following that on which it is passed.
Textual Amendments
F6S. 3(2) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI
F7Words in s. 3(3) repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059)
Textual Amendments
F8S. 4 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. V
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F9Sch. repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI