Barlow and Chambers execution
The Barlow and Chambers executions were the hangings on 7 July 1986 by Malaysia of two Westerners, Kevin John Barlow (Australian and British) and Brian Geoffrey Shergold Chambers (Australian) of Perth, Western Australia, for transporting 141.9 g (5.01 oz) of heroin.
| Date | 7 July 1986 |
|---|---|
| Location | Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Type | Execution by hanging |
| Perpetrator | Malaysian Prison Department |
| Outcome | Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers executed by hanging |
Kevin John Barlow | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957/1958 Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 7 July 1986 (aged 28) Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | Drug trafficking |
| Criminal penalty | Death penalty |
Brian Geoffrey Shergold Chambers | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956/1957 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 7 July 1986 (aged 29) Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | Drug trafficking |
| Criminal penalty | Death penalty |
The two men became the first Westerners to be executed under Malaysia's new tougher laws for drug offences. Under Section 39B(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, "Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be punished on conviction with death..." Barlow was born in the United Kingdom in Stoke-on-Trent and held dual British and Australian nationalities. Barlow's family made appeals to UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to make a protest about the impending execution, but she declined to do so. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Bill Hayden's appeal for clemency to the Malaysian government was rejected. The executions caused public outcry and strained political relations between Australia and Malaysia at the time.