Death sentences
Archive theme
A death sentence is not the same thing as an execution: years can pass between the two, and the sentence may be overturned on appeal, commuted, or never carried out. Counting them separately measures two different things: how far a state resorts to capital punishment, and how far it actually applies it.
This page collects the news on death sentences handed down around the world, on the later stages of appeal, and on the sentences upheld or overturned. Executions have a page of their own.
Latest news
- MARCH 7, 2018BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY IN COP MURDER CASE
The High Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence in the bomb attack case in which policeman Mahmoud Farid was killed, a statement issued by Terror Crime Prosecution said.
- MARCH 6, 2018United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: MAN WHO KILLED LOVER'S HUSBAND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY DUBAI COURT
A man who killed his lover’s husband was sentenced to death in the UAE after being convicted of premeditated murder.
- MARCH 6, 2018ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. A jury has sentenced Eric Allen Reid to death
USA - Arkansas. A jury has sentenced Eric Allen Reid to death
- MARCH 5, 2018TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Bizerte sentenced to death two defendants, one of whom is fleeing, in a case of murder of a 36-year-old man in the governorate of Sejnane of Bizerte.
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Bizerte sentenced to death two defendants, one of whom is fleeing, in a case of murder of a 36-year-old man in the governorate of Sejnane of Bizerte.
- MARCH 4, 2018TennesseeDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. A jury sentenced Urshawn Miller to death.
USA - Tennessee. A jury sentenced Urshawn Miller to death.
- MARCH 2, 2018ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. A Court jailed a Mennonite investigator for refusing on religious grounds to testify in a death-penalty trial
USA - Colorado. A Court jailed a Mennonite investigator for refusing on religious grounds to testify in a death-penalty trial
FEBRUARY 28, 2018PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: MURDERER AWARDED DEATH SENTENCE
Additional district and sessions judge, Shakeel Ahmad Sipra awarded death sentence to an accused of a murder case.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2018TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Jason Wade Delacerda to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Jason Wade Delacerda to death
FEBRUARY 26, 2018YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 SOLDIERS IN SANAA
The Central Military Court of First Instance in the capital Sanaa sentenced Ali Mohammed Ahmed al-Maghrabi to death for killing three soldiers and injuring 16 others.
FEBRUARY 25, 2018IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 16 TURKISH WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER DAESH MEMBERSHIP
A court in Iraq has sentenced 16 Turkish women to death over membership in the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and involvement in acts of terror across the conflict-ridden Arab country.
- FEBRUARY 23, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Jalal Harb sentenced Benjamin Davis Smiley Jr. to death
USA - Florida. Judge Jalal Harb sentenced Benjamin Davis Smiley Jr. to death
- FEBRUARY 23, 2018OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Christopher Whitaker
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Christopher Whitaker
FEBRUARY 23, 2018Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: FOUR ROHINGYAS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ATTACK ON POLICE OUTPOST
Four Rohingya militants were sentenced to death by a special court in Maungdaw district of Rakhaine state in Myanmar, according to a report by The Irrawaddy news magazine.
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS: MINUTES BEFORE EXECUTION, GOV. GREG ABBOTT COMMUTES THE SENTENCE OF THOMAS WHITAKER
Less than an hour before execution, Gov. Abbott commutes the sentence of Thomas Whitaker (38, White).
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Donald Smith to death
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Donald Smith to death
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Less than an hour before execution, Gov. Abbott commutes the sentence of Thomas Whitaker
USA - Texas. Less than an hour before execution, Gov. Abbott commutes the sentence of Thomas Whitaker
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. The state Supreme Court vacated the death sentence of James Guzman because it was not unanimous
USA - Florida. The state Supreme Court vacated the death sentence of James Guzman because it was not unanimous
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE AWARDED TO KILLER IN FAISALABAD
The sessions court in Faisalabad awarded death sentence on two counts to an accused involved in a double murder case in limits Chak Jhumra police station.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE TO SHIA POLITICAL DISSIDENT
A court in Saudi Arabia handed down a death penalty to a Shia anti-regime activist.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2018South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA'S 'MOLAR DADDY' GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDERING TEEN GIRL
A court in South Korea meted out the death sentence to a man charged with killing a school friend of his daughter after sexually molesting her, Yonhap news agency reported.
FEBRUARY 21, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: 21 DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ‘DAMIETTA TERRORIST CELL’
Cairo criminal court headed by Chancellor Shabeb Al-Damarany sentenced 21 defendants to death in the case known publicly by “Damietta terrorist cell”.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2018VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. A federal judge (Brikema) barred automatic solitary confinement on death row
USA - Virginia. A federal judge (Brikema) barred automatic solitary confinement on death row
FEBRUARY 21, 2018KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING HIS STEP BROTHER
A quarry worker was sentenced to death for killing his stepbrother nine years ago. Patrick Muiru killed Joseph over a grudge with his stepmother on April 27, 2009, in Kangoo village, Thika town.
- FEBRUARY 20, 2018TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. The Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended clemency for Thomas Whitaker.
USA - Texas. The Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended clemency for Thomas Whitaker.
FEBRUARY 20, 2018SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: NAVY OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER COMMANDER’S KILLING
A Somali military court passed a death sentence to a Navy soldier Abdinasir Hosh Mohamed for the killing of Deputy Commander Said Ali Dhere, Radio Dalsan reports.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: 4 DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ‘AWSIM CELL’ CASE
Giza Criminal Court sentenced 4 defendants to death in the case known publicly by “Awsim cell”.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 7-YEAR-OLD HASINI'S RAPIST AND KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The young engineer accused of raping and murdering 7-year-old Hasini in Chennai last February was sentenced to death by a Chengalpet Court, Tamil Nadu.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2018IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ SENTENCES TURKISH WOMAN TO DEATH, 11 OTHERS TO LIFE
A court in the Iraqi capital sentenced to death a Turkish woman and 11 other foreign widows to life in jail for belonging to the Islamic State.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2018CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo sentenced David Ponce to death.
USA - California. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo sentenced David Ponce to death.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2018MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced Steven Wilbanks to death
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced Steven Wilbanks to death