Nora Parham

Nora Parham (née Williams; 1 January 1927 – 5 June 1963) is the only woman known to have been executed by Belize (known as British Honduras at the time of her death). She was hanged for the murder by burning of her abusive partner, Ketchell Trapp. Parham was posthumously pardoned in 2022. It was determined that while Parham had intentionally thrown gasoline on Trapp, Trapp had most likely set himself on fire by accident.

Biography Parham was born on January 1, 1927, in Punta Gorda the second of four children of Alexander Williams, a mahogany contractor, and his wife Caroline. She was of South Asian ancestry, and cut a diminutive figure, standing and weighing . Though originally from Punta Gorda, she later moved to Orange Walk Town. Parham had eight children, one of whom was born in prison. Her first four children had been fathered by her estranged husband, Parham, while the father of the others was Ketchell Raymond Trapp, a constable in the British Honduras Police Force. Trapp had a reputation for drunkenness and domestic violence, and Parham had frequently complained to police about his behaviour.

Death of Ketchell Trapp Around mid-day on 6 February 1963, Ketchell Trapp caught on fire in the outhouse of the home he shared with Parham. He suffered third-degree burns to 90% of his body, with only his neck and head unharmed, and died in Belize City Hospital the following day.

Trial and execution After Trapp's death, Parham was arrested and remanded in Belize Central Prison. Her trial was held before the Supreme Court, and prosecuted by John Havers, the solicitor-general. She pleaded not guilty, but on 30 April 1963 an all-male jury delivered a guilty verdict after four hours' deliberation. In the following weeks, a petition for clemency containing 2,461 signatures was delivered to the Governor of Belize, Peter Stallard, but was rejected on the advice of the People's United Party government.