Commonwealth of Virginia Executes Paraguayan Despite ICJ Plea

On April 14, 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia executed Angel Francisco Breard, a Paraguayan national, for murder despite a plea from the International Court of Justice and from Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright that Mr. Breard be spared. Approximately 2½ hours before his execution, the U.S. Supreme Court voted, 6 to 3, not to block the execution. Governor James S. Gilmore 3rd of Virginia rejected a clemency plea. A more in depth story with a discussion of the various international law arguments and implications will appear in the next issue of the IELR.