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
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Jury recommends death sentence for Glen Bates
USA - Ohio. Jury recommends death sentence for Glen Bates
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Hà Nội People’s Court sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for murder and robbing homes.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: COURT CONDEMNS 18 TRIBESMEN TO DEATH
The Khartoum North Criminal Court sentenced 18 people to death for their part in a 2014 tribal clash. The
SEPTEMBER 23, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: DOZENS OF SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Dozens of South Sudanese soldiers were sentenced to death over abuses committed during the renewed
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Daniel Patrick Wozniak was sentenced to death by Judge John Conley
USA - California. Daniel Patrick Wozniak was sentenced to death by Judge John Conley
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC AT FOOTBALL STADIUM
A prisoner sentenced to public execution for rape and murder was hanged in public at a sports stadium in the city of Neyriz (Fars province, southern Iran) in the morning.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: BAR FEDERATION TARGETS ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY FOR 1ST TIME
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations will propose for the first time to its members next month that they work for the abolition of capital punishment so that even the worst offenders can be rehabilitated.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 9 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
A court in northern Vietnam sentenced nine people to death for heroin trafficking, state media said.
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Christopher Bageni – former Superintendent of Police (Kinondoni) was sentenced to death.
Christopher Bageni – former Superintendent of Police (Kinondoni) was sentenced to death.
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Michael Thomas
USA - California. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Michael Thomas
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: YOUTH SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS FATHER IN GIZA
Giza criminal court has sentenced a young man to death for killing his father.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 21 CONVICTED, CONDEMNED TO DEATH OVER ALBINO KILLING
Over 21 people have been convicted of killing people with albinism in Tanzania and sentenced to death.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 2 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING 7 KILOS OF HEROIN
A court in the central province of Nghe An sentenced two people to death and another to life in prison for
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: ANKUR PANWAR SENTENCED TO DEATH IN PREETI RATHI ACID ATTACK AND MURDER CASE
A special women's court sentenced a 25-year-old man to death for murdering a Delhi resident by hurling acid at Bandra Terminus in 2013.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2016ThailandDEATH PENALTYTHAILAND: DEATH SENTENCE FOR THREE MEN INVOLVED IN MURDER OF EX-MAYOR OF SONGKHLA MUNICIPALITY
The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for three men found guilty of murdering the former mayor
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: 4 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DAESH LINKS
An Egyptian court sentenced four people to death for alleged links with the Daesh militant group.
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MURDER SUSPECTS GET DEATH SENTENCE AFTER 23 YEARS
High Court Judge of Hambantota, Ajith Masinha, sentenced to death three suspects in a murder case that
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HAMBANTOTA
Three people were sentenced to death by the Hambantota Provincial High Court on charges of having
AUGUST 30, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 11 GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING JUBO DAL ACTIVIST IN LAXIPUR
A Laxipur court ordered death penalty to 11 for murdering Maolana Babor, who was an activist of Laxipur Jubo Dal.
AUGUST 25, 2016CameroonDEATH PENALTYCAMEROON: 109 SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Cameroon has sentenced 109 people to death for having links with terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
- AUGUST 10, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: EX-MP SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR WAR CRIMES IN 1971
A special tribunal dealing with war crimes committed during Bangladesh's independence war
AUGUST 9, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NINE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SMUGGLING 280KG OF HEROIN TO CHINA
A Lang Son court awarded death sentences to nine men and life to two others for smuggling a total of 280kg of heroin from the northern province to China in 2013 and 2014.
AUGUST 2, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CREATING UNREST IN SAUDI ARABIA AND BAHRAIN
A Saudi national was sentenced to death for attacking the general court at the Governorate of Al-Qatif four years ago.
- AUGUST 1, 2016LaosDEATH PENALTY
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
AUGUST 1, 2016MoroccoDEATH PENALTYMOROCCO: KING MOHAMMED VI PARDONS WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Khadija Amrir, a 43-year-old woman was released from prison on the Morocco’s public holiday known as
- JULY 27, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH PENALTY ISSUED FOR SHIITE MINOR
The Specialised Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia issued its initial judgement, in which a death penalty sentence
- JULY 26, 2016ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Joshua Komisarjevsky resentenced to six consecutive life sentences without parole
USA - Connecticut. Joshua Komisarjevsky resentenced to six consecutive life sentences without parole
- JULY 25, 2016MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
MALDIVES: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS THIRD DEATH SENTENCE
The Supreme Court upheld a third death sentence since the current administration lifted a six-decade moratorium on capital punishment in 2014.
- JULY 25, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Judge: Man cleared of murder shouldn't be declared innocent.
USA - Texas. Judge: Man cleared of murder shouldn't be declared innocent.
- JULY 19, 2016Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
GAZA: HAMAS SENTENCES 3 GAZANS TO DEATH FOR SPYING FOR ISRAEL
A Hamas-run military court sentenced three Gazans to death and three to prison, charging them with being informants for Israel.