LONDON (CMC):

Three Caribbean nationals have been spared the hangman's noose, at least for the time being, after the London-based Privy Council ruled that their death sentence should not be carried out.

Trinidadian Lester Pitman's appeal to the Privy Council, the region's highest court, was allowed on the basis of new medical evidence which may cast doubt on the vadility of his conviction for murder and the legality of the sentence of death.

"Since fresh evidence is capable of having (a major) effect ... their Lordships consider that the conviction of the appellant is potentially unsafe and requires review," the Privy Council said in a 16-page judgment.