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
JUNE 7, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: 26 SENTENCED TO DEATH, 21 TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR ASWAN VIOLENCE
Twenty-six people were sentenced to death and 21 to life in prison for involvement in tribal violence in
- JUNE 6, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HUSBAND
A court in Bangladesh awarded death sentence to a woman for killing her husband.
- JUNE 6, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Judge Dismisses Charges Against Former Death Row Inmate Kerry Max Cook
USA - Texas. Judge Dismisses Charges Against Former Death Row Inmate Kerry Max Cook
- JUNE 6, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Lonnie Franklin, the serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper", has been sentenced to death
USA - California. Lonnie Franklin, the serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper", has been sentenced to death
- JUNE 3, 2016FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Philip Federico sentenced Craig Wall to death
USA - Florida. Judge Philip Federico sentenced Craig Wall to death
- JUNE 2, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended a death sentence for Darnell Williams
USA - California. A jury recommended a death sentence for Darnell Williams
- JUNE 2, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Michael Madison to death
USA - Ohio. Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Michael Madison to death
JUNE 1, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 14 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced to death 14 of its citizens for terrorism in the Shi'ite Muslim minority
- JUNE 1, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: ONE SENTENCED TO DEATH, TWO TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR WAR CRIMES
A special tribunal sentenced a person to death while two others to life in prison for crimes committed during
- MAY 31, 2016LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Executions on Hold Until At Least 2018.
USA - Louisiana. Executions on Hold Until At Least 2018.
MAY 31, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 6 MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER BANK ROBBERY
Six militants of banned outfits Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team have
MAY 31, 2016United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: GULF SINGER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING EX-HUSBAND
The Court of Appeals in Al-Ain upheld the death penalty in the murder case of Emirati poet and director
- MAY 26, 2016DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): STATE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH PENALTY, INCLUDING FOR DEATH-ROW INMATES
The Connecticut Supreme Court has upheld 5-2 its 2015 decision to abolish the state’s death penalty, including for the 11 men on Connecticut’s death row.
- MAY 24, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI COURT HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO MAN CONVICTED OF 2004 ATTACK ON SWISS FIRM
A man has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for killing six Westerners and a Saudi soldier in an al
- MAY 24, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: FIVE NAVAL OFFICERS GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR ATTACK ON DOCKYARD
Five navy officers were given the death sentence by a Navy court in Pakistan for planning to hijack a
MAY 24, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE SAUDIS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BURYING FIVE INDIAN WORKERS ALIVE
The General Court in Al-Taif sentenced three Saudi nationals to death in connection with the mass grave
- MAY 21, 2016AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: NANGARHAR COURT SENTENCES TWO KIDNAPPERS TO DEATH
An appeal court in Nangarhar province has reportedly sentenced two kidnappers to death.
- MAY 20, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Charles E. Brownlow to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Charles E. Brownlow to death
- MAY 20, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury recommends the death penalty for Michael Madison
USA - Ohio. A jury recommends the death penalty for Michael Madison
- MAY 19, 2016BelarusDEATH PENALTY
THIRD BELARUSIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH SINCE JANUARY
А court in Belarus has sentenced a third man to death since January.
- MAY 17, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 7 VILLAGERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 WOMEN SUSPECTING THEM AS WITCHES
Eight people including two women were held guilty on charges of lynching three women at Daspur in October 2012.
- MAY 16, 2016DEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Candace J. Beason sentenced Romaine Martin to death
USA - California. Judge Candace J. Beason sentenced Romaine Martin to death
- MAY 10, 2016KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT: TWO EGYPTIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS
The Criminal Court sentenced two Egyptians to death for smuggling huge quantities of drugs into the
MAY 8, 2016AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: 6 TERRORISTS EXECUTED
Six terrorists who had been awarded capital punishment on charge of involvement in subversive activities were executed in Pul-e-Charkhi prison of Kabul, a Presidential Palace’s statemen said.
- MAY 7, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT COURT SPARES OUSTED PRESIDENT MOHAMED MORSI THE DEATH PENALTY
An Egyptian court recommended death sentences for six codefendants of Mohamed Morsi but not for the
- MAY 7, 2016TennesseeDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. A jury again sentenced Michael Rimmer to death
USA - Tennessee. A jury again sentenced Michael Rimmer to death
MAY 5, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI HEAD
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of top Islamist party leader Motiur Rahman Nizami
- MAY 5, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Demond Bluntson to death.
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Demond Bluntson to death.
- MAY 4, 2016ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: CAREGIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING SENIOR
A caregiver, found guilty of the murder of an elderly woman in her care, was sentenced to death by a court
- MAY 4, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: ONE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MAKING FAKE NOTES
Additional district and session judge court in Nilphamari sentenced one person to death for making fake