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
- NOVEMBER 24, 2016PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. The state Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence for Melvin Knight
USA - Pennsylvania. The state Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence for Melvin Knight
- NOVEMBER 21, 2016SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
ICJ: SINGAPORE MUST BE TRANSPARENT IN IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIONS
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned Singapore’s execution of two people on 18 November.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2016South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld new sentencing hearing for Johnny Bennett
USA - South Carolina. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld new sentencing hearing for Johnny Bennett
NOVEMBER 20, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FATHER OF FIVE SENTENCED TO GALLOWS FOR TRAFFICKING 15KG OF METH
The Alor Star High Court sentenced a father of five to
- NOVEMBER 19, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury decided that Douglas Shine Jr. should be sentenced to death
USA - Ohio. A jury decided that Douglas Shine Jr. should be sentenced to death
- NOVEMBER 18, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Amos Wells to death.
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Amos Wells to death.
NOVEMBER 18, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: ANOTHER ACCUSED GETS CAPITAL SENTENCE IN SENARI MASSACRE CASE
A court awarded death sentence to one more accused person in a case related to massacre of 34 people by
- NOVEMBER 16, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended James Ellis, be executed
USA - California. A jury recommended James Ellis, be executed
- NOVEMBER 16, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Judge Laurie Pittman sentenced Damantae D. Graham to death
USA - Ohio. Judge Laurie Pittman sentenced Damantae D. Graham to death
- NOVEMBER 15, 2016KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
As per the current juvenile law, criminal penalties are applicable only to those aged 18 years or above, and only special penalties are applied to those under 18.
As per the current juvenile law, criminal penalties are applicable only to those aged 18 years or above, and only special penalties are applied to those under 18.
NOVEMBER 15, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: HIGHEST COURT QUASHES EX-PRESIDENT MORSI'S DEATH PENALTY
The Egyptian Court of Cassation annulled the death sentence of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and ordered a new trial before a criminal court.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2016ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. A jury has sentenced Mauricio Torres to die
USA - Arkansas. A jury has sentenced Mauricio Torres to die
NOVEMBER 15, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: 10 AWARDED DEATH PENALTY IN THE CASE OF SENARI MASSACRE
A court in the Indian state of Bihar awarded death penalty to 10 and sentenced three to life imprisonment in
- NOVEMBER 14, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Darnell Washington to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Darnell Washington to death
NOVEMBER 14, 2016DEATH PENALTYUSA: A COMEBACK FOR THE DEATH PENALTY?
After years of declining use of the death penalty across the United States and declining public support for
- NOVEMBER 14, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - CNN: A comeback for the death penalty?
USA - CNN: A comeback for the death penalty?
NOVEMBER 14, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PAKISTANI DRUG SMUGGLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
The Semarang District Court in Central Java sentenced Muhammad Riaz to death for smuggling 97
NOVEMBER 13, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE EXECUTED OVER DRUG CHARGES, MURDER
Iranian authorities executed at least nine prisoners today.
NOVEMBER 11, 2016JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DOUBLE MURDERER EXECUTED; 2ND UNDER CITIZEN JUDGE SYSTEM
A man convicted of two murders was hanged at the Fukuoka Detention House in Kyushu, the Justice Ministry announced.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2016OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. A jury sentenced David Ray Bartol to death
USA - Oregon. A jury sentenced David Ray Bartol to death
NOVEMBER 10, 2016KuwaitDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT: JUVENILE AGE LOWERED TO 16; TEENAGERS WARNED THEY COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY FOR CERTAIN CRIMES
Kuwaiti teenage students have been warned that they could face the death penalty or heavy prison terms for certain crimes following the decision to lower the juvenile age from 18 to 16 in January.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2016ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA COURT HANDS DEATH SENTENCE OVER WAREHOUSE BLASTS
A chairman of a Chinese logistics company was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in relation to
NOVEMBER 8, 2016NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: OSUN COURT SENTENCES OCTOGENARIAN, THREE OTHERS TO DEATH
An Osun State High Court presided by Justice Kudrat Akano sentenced an octogenarian Mr Oluwafemi
- NOVEMBER 8, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended capital punishment for Johnny Lopez
USA - California. A jury recommended capital punishment for Johnny Lopez
NOVEMBER 5, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER FORMING TERROR CELL
An Egyptian court sentenced two local men to death on charges of involvement in militant attacks in Libya and planning assaults in Egypt, legal sources said.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WIFE, FOUR DAUGHTERS
A man was sentenced to death by a local court in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh for killing his wife and
- NOVEMBER 3, 2016ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STRANGLING, RAPING GIRL, 14
A 45-year-old man charged with strangling and then raping his 14-year-old neighbour was sentenced to death.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2016LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. A jury opted to give the death penalty to David Brown
USA - Louisiana. A jury opted to give the death penalty to David Brown
- OCTOBER 31, 2016AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Tracie Todd re-sentenced Marcus Benn to life without parole
USA - Alabama. Judge Tracie Todd re-sentenced Marcus Benn to life without parole
- OCTOBER 31, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER A MURDER CASE
The Colombo High Court has sentenced to death five relatives convicted of murdering an individual.