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 21, 2016MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
MALDIVES: PROSECUTORS DEFEND DEATH SENTENCE ON MP MURDERER
Prosecutors defended the death sentence handed to Hussain Humam over the brutal murder of former
MARCH 19, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: ROBBER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 27-year-old robber of Solwezi has been sentenced to death by the Kitwe High Court.
MARCH 18, 2016NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR STEALING N30,000 IN ONDO
A middle age man was sentenced to death by hanging by the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the
MARCH 17, 2016CameroonDEATH PENALTYCAMEROON: 89 BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Cameroon has sentenced 89 members of the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram to death on terror charges, the BBC Hausa service is reporting.
- MARCH 16, 2016DEATH PENALTY
OHIO (USA): TOP COURT APPROVES ROMELL BROOM'S SECOND EXECUTION ATTEMPT AFTER BOTCHED INJECTIONS
The Ohio Supreme Court decided that the state can try again to put to death Rommell Broom, whose 2009 botched execution was called off after 2 hours.
MARCH 16, 2016OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court decided that the state can try again to put to death Romell Broom
USA - Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court decided that the state can try again to put to death Romell Broom
- MARCH 16, 2016South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. Federal Judge Richard Gergel Overturns Death Sentence Because of Prosecutor's Racist Arguments.
USA - South Carolina. Federal Judge Richard Gergel Overturns Death Sentence Because of Prosecutor's Racist Arguments.
MARCH 15, 2016DEATH PENALTYUSA: RONELL WILSON'S DEATH SENTENCE VACATED DUE TO 'INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY'
United States District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that federal death row inmate Ronell Wilson is ineligible for the death penalty because he has intellectual disability.
- MARCH 15, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that federal death row inmate Ronell Wilson is ineligible for the death penalty because he has intellectual disability
USA - Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that federal death row inmate Ronell Wilson is ineligible for the death penalty because he has intellectual disability
MARCH 13, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: EIGHT MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH AWAIT FINAL VERDICT FOLLOWING MILITARY RETRIAL
The West Cairo Military Court adjourned issuing the verdict in the case publicly known as the "specialised
MARCH 12, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: COURT SENTENCES 5 TO DEATH OVER RESTAURANT BOMBING
Somalia’s military tribunal sentenced five suspects to death for their roles in the recent deadly suicide
- MARCH 11, 2016ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new sentencing hearing for Charles Hedlund
USA - Arizona. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new sentencing hearing for Charles Hedlund
- MARCH 9, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: 11 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER KIDNAP, RAPE CHARGES
An Egyptian criminal court in Upper Egypt's Menoufiya sentenced 11 to death on charges of abducting a
- MARCH 9, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman sentenced Michael Brown to death
USA - California. Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman sentenced Michael Brown to death
- MARCH 8, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 1,398 PEOPLE AWARDED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DURING 2004-14
As many as 1,398 people were awarded capital punishment and three were executed in the country during
MARCH 6, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: BILLIONAIRE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN GRAFT CASE
A court in Iran has sentenced to death Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani and two accomplices for
MARCH 6, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 COUSINS OVER ‘WITCHCRAFT’
Zagazig Criminal Court sentenced a police officer to death for murdering his three cousins, who he accused
- MARCH 4, 2016AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A Jury recommends death penalty for Stephon Lindsay
USA - Alabama. A Jury recommends death penalty for Stephon Lindsay
- FEBRUARY 28, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
TANZANIA: APPEAL COURT CONFIRMS TWO DEATH SENTENCES
Court of Appeal Justices Angela Kileo, Sauda Mjasiri and Bethuel Mmilla, confirmed death sentences
FEBRUARY 27, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: NINE CULPRITS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN 13-YEAR-OLD CHITRAKOOT MASSACRE
The local court of Chitrakoot sentenced 9 people to death in 13-year-old massacre. Two of the accused
- FEBRUARY 26, 2016LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Death sentence overturned for 2nd time.
USA - Louisiana. Death sentence overturned for 2nd time.
- FEBRUARY 25, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended death today for Gilbert Sanchez
USA - California. A jury recommended death today for Gilbert Sanchez
- FEBRUARY 24, 2016United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: DEATH SENTENCE FOR ALGERIAN WHO KILLED MAN AND STOLE DH1M IN CASH
A 35-year-old Algerian was sentenced to death after being found guilty of killing a Chinese man and stealing more than Dh1 million in cash from him.
FEBRUARY 21, 2016JordanDEATH PENALTYJORDAN: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING OFFICERS
The State Security Court (SSC) sentenced three men to the death penalty for murdering two police officers and a gendarme lieutenant in two separate cases in Irbid and Maan.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2016FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Victim's mother urges State Attorney to take death penalty off the table
USA - Florida. Victim's mother urges State Attorney to take death penalty off the table
- FEBRUARY 18, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 40 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2014 TIKRIT MASSACRE
An Iraqi court sentenced 40 men to hang over the June 2014 massacre by Sunni jihadists and allied militants of hundreds of military recruits in Tikrit, the judiciary said.
FEBRUARY 16, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DEATH ROW INMATE FOUND PREGNANT, 4 OFFICERS SUSPENDED
Four corrections officers were suspended in northern Vietnam after a death-row inmate became pregnant in an apparent attempt to avoid the death penalty, news reports said.
FEBRUARY 16, 2016BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: TRIPLE MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH
Belarus sentenced to death a man convicted of killing three people, the day after the European Union (EU)
- FEBRUARY 16, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Gustavo Garcia, 43, Hispanic, was executed.
USA - Texas. Gustavo Garcia, 43, Hispanic, was executed.
FEBRUARY 16, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: SC TURNS CONVICT'S DEATH SENTENCE INTO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) changed the decision of convict s execution into life imprisonment.