own life after escaping the gallows.

West was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to the premeditated murder of his estranged wife, Rochelle West, on January 5 this year.

The Supreme Court was told he poured some sulphuric acid on his wife before stabbing her to death in front of her colleagues at the Chamber of Commerce.

Last week, Governor Lord Waddington commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment after consulting with the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which studied all aspects of the West case.

Although Britain has abolished the death sentence and has put pressure on Bermuda in the past to follow suit, it is understood the UK Government played no part in the decision.

Yesterday, West's aunt, Mrs. Emily Bean, said: "From the family's point of view the decision is what we wanted. But it may not be appropriate in regards to what the public and the family of Rochelle might want.'' She said the news had not yet sunk in with her nephew, but that she would be seeing him in Westgate prison later this week.

"Everyone is relieved. No-one wants to lose anyone that way,'' she said.

West had refused to cooperate with any appeal and it took from August 2, when he was sentenced, for the committee to make a decision.

During that time the 27-year-old has threatened to take his own life, telling his family that if the hangman did not do it, he would.

Mrs. Bean added: "I am very relieved that a decision has been made, regardless which one it was.

"Anything is better than being left waiting. I think he still wants to die.

From speaking to him, it is still on his mind.'' Despite the sentence being commuted there is no move by Government to reconsider abolishing the death sentence. Premier David Saul said yesterday: "At this point in time there is no general movement or any thought towards actually reviewing the legislation.''