Six thousand people signed a petition for Larry Tacklyn and Erskine (Buck) Burrows to be saved from the death penalty.

Between them they had been found guilty of five murders in seven months, including the murder of former Governor Sir Richard Sharples in 1973.

The signatures were presented to newly appointed Governor Sir Peter Ramsbottom on September 29, 1977.

The petition was delivered to the House of Commons and Sir Peter asked the local Prerogative of Mercy Committee for their opinion. For the second time they advised that both men should hang.

News came on November 25 that British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary Dr. David Owens was "unable" to advise the Queen to intervene to prevent law from taking its course.

The decision was based on an old rule, first propounded by a Labour Foreign Secretary in the late 1940s. The Secretary had stated: "Don't interfere in a self-governing colony, let them decide."

An announcement was made that Burrows and Tacklyn would hang on December 2.

The Progressive Labour Party, then the Opposition, called for people to peacefully protest against capital punishment.

Its leader, Dame Lois Browne Evans, was a staunch opponent of the death penalty and had represented Tacklyn in his defence and appeal.

But Premier David Gibbons said the Government's hands were tied and they could not interfere with the law running its course.

He also ruled out a special convening of Parliament to discuss the situation.

He reasoned that both men had exhausted their legal options; the cornerstone of a democracy was an independent judiciary and legislature; the Queen had decided not to intervene; the House of Assembly had voted against abolishing capital punishment in 1975 and no new legislation had been placed before Parliament since then.

The PLP argued that the House of Assembly could pass a law stating "from this day forward" capital punishment would be abolished, thus cancelling the executions of Burrows and Tacklyn.

In mid-November the National Committee Against Capital Punishment (NCACP) was formed and organised a peaceful protest against the hangings at Victoria Park for November 30.

They called it the "People's Parliament" because the Government had refused to convene the real Parliament to discuss the issue.

Hundreds attended the event. On the same day, Dame Lois filed a four point application to the Chief Justice for a stay of execution for Tacklyn.

The first petrol bombs were thrown that evening on Cavendish Heights, a precursor for what was to come.

Letters to the Editor in the December 1, 1977 edition of The Royal Gazette — the day the final legal bid was being heard and 24 hours before the men were to hang — show the divided opinions on the Island.

One member of the public wrote: "Six thousand signatures of Bermudians have been ignored. Two lives are at stake. How can we show contempt for the wishes of people not to hang these men in our civilised society?"

While another wrote: "If you think we shall be committing legalised murder on Friday, December 2, spare a thought for the five just and innocent men who were brutally slaughtered in cold blood by these two callous men."

Lawyers Dame Lois and Julian Hall argued that Tacklyn's constitutional rights had been violated by the use of a special jury during his trial and argued that execution was "cruel and unusual punishment".

The Appeals Court Judges deliberated for two hours as a crowd of hundreds of angry people gathered around the court.

At 10 p.m. the Court of Appeal president Sir Michael Hogan said: "There is nothing more we can do for you. We see no reason to allow this appeal, which is dismissed."

With those words uttered hundreds took to the street to vent their frustrations.

For the next three days Hamilton burned. Three innocent people died. Millions of dollars were lost as several stores burned to the ground.

Eventually British troops were called in and the riots ended.

The Pitt Commission, which was formed to examine the causes of the riots, said the hangings were the straw that broke the camel's back.

A myriad of social and economic issues including the economic structure of Bermuda; a lack of access to economic opportunities; poor education; the concentration of economic power in Front Street; a lack of support for small black businesses and lack of job training were also blamed.

Tomorrow The Royal Gazette examines the legacy of the riots and the people that played a role in them.

Were you involved in the riots? Did you witness them? Contact Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch at roklynch[AT]royalgazette.bm.