BLAIR SHOULD HELP DEATH-ROW BRITON, LAW SOCIETY SAYS

The Law Society has written to Tony Blair asking him to intervene in the case of the first British subject set to be executed in the US since 1995.Tracy Housel, who was born in Bermuda and so holds dual British and US citizenship, was convicted in 1985 of the murder of a hitchhiker.

However, it later emerged that Housel suffered from an abusive childhood which left him brain damaged, and at the time of the murder was suffering from hypoglycaemia, which can cause blackouts.

None of these issues was presented at trial.His pro bono solicitor, Yasmin Waljee of City firm Lovells, said: 'It would be unlawful in international law to execute a man with brain damage.'Law Society President David McIntosh said: 'Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and we believe strongly that if the jury in the original trial had heard this evidence...

they may not have come to the same verdict.'MPs, the Society and Bar Council have signed a submission to the US Supreme Court asking for clemency before next month's execution.Victoria MacCallum