Seven convicted Iranian murderers were to be hanged...

Seven convicted Iranian murderers were to be hanged simultaneously in Tehran's eastern Qasr prison, but three managed to escape death just minutes ahead of the execution. A judicial source, who asked not to be named, told AFP that four of the seven murderers were hanged as scheduled. According to the source, one of the convicts escaped execution after paying the victims' family 12,500 dollars in "blood money" which can save prisoners facing the death penalty if the family agrees to it. Another prisoner was pardoned by the victim's family which did not request such compensation, and the third murderer's execution was postponed after the victim's family failed to show up for the execution.