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
- FEBRUARY 16, 2016DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): GUSTAVO GARCIA EXECUTED
Gustavo Garcia, 43, Hispanic, was executed. Garcia was sentenced to death after confessing to the murders of two clerks during separate robberies.
FEBRUARY 14, 2016United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR JOINING DAESH
Four men were sentenced in absentia to death for joining Daesh and fighting with the terrorist group in Syria, the Federal Supreme Court ruled.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Larry Paul Fidler sentenced Ka Pasasouk to death.
USA - California. Judge Larry Paul Fidler sentenced Ka Pasasouk to death.
- FEBRUARY 4, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE TO 11 FOR KILLING WOMAN TO GRAB LAND IN NADIA
Eleven people including a former Trinamool Congress leader were awarded death sentence by Nadia
- FEBRUARY 3, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - National Registry of Exonerations Reports Record 58 Homicide Exonerations in 2015, Including 5 from Death Row.
USA - National Registry of Exonerations Reports Record 58 Homicide Exonerations in 2015, Including 5 from Death Row.
FEBRUARY 3, 2016EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: COURT OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCES FOR 149 MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SUPPORTERS
A court in Egypt overturned the death sentences given last year to 149 supporters of the Muslim
- FEBRUARY 3, 2016AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Dennis Hicks
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Dennis Hicks
FEBRUARY 3, 2016DEATH PENALTYUSA: REPORT FINDS RECORD NUMBER OF EXONERATIONS IN 2015
A report released by the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE) reported that a record 149 defendants
- FEBRUARY 2, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: 2 MORE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN 1971 WAR CRIMES
A special war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced two more men to death after finding them guilty of
- FEBRUARY 2, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Christian Olsen, Originally Given Death Penalty, Is Resentenced To Life In Prison.
USA - Texas. Christian Olsen, Originally Given Death Penalty, Is Resentenced To Life In Prison.
- JANUARY 28, 2016United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: WIFE’S KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH DESPITE FAMILY PARDON
A court of appeals in Ras Al Khaimah sentenced an Arab man to death after he was convicted of killing his wife, despite a pardon by his children.
- JANUARY 28, 2016CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Michael Charles Brown to death.
USA - California. A jury sentenced Michael Charles Brown to death.
JANUARY 27, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HIGH COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF SERIAL KILLER, AWARDS LIFE TERM
The Delhi High Court commuted to life capital punishment awarded to serial killer Chandrakant Jha in two
- JANUARY 17, 2016AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING 8 MEMBERS OF A FAMILY IN NANGARHAR
A man was sentenced to death by a primary court in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan for
- JANUARY 15, 2016TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Mark Anthony Gonzales, 45, Hispanic, was formally sentenced to death today
USA - Texas. Mark Anthony Gonzales, 45, Hispanic, was formally sentenced to death today
JANUARY 13, 2016Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYGAZA: FOUR GET DEATH PENALTY OVER SPYING FOR ISRAEL
A military court in the Gaza Strip sentenced four people to death on charges of spying for Israel.
- JANUARY 7, 2016FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Oscar Ray Bolin, 53, White, was executed.
USA - Florida. Oscar Ray Bolin, 53, White, was executed.
- JANUARY 5, 2016BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Minsk Regional Court pronounced this year’s first death sentence in the case of Henadz Yakavitski, a
- JANUARY 1, 2016AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
- JANUARY 1, 2016Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
- JANUARY 1, 2016MauritaniaDEATH PENALTY
High treason, premeditated murder and torture are capital crimes.
High treason, premeditated murder and torture are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2016BeninDEATH PENALTY
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
- JANUARY 1, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by the Penal Code and by Art. 21 of the Constitution
The death penalty is provided for by the Penal Code and by Art. 21 of the Constitution
- JANUARY 1, 2016JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2016JordanDEATH PENALTY
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
- JANUARY 1, 2016IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2016GuatemalaDEATH PENALTY
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide...
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide, aggravated homicide and assassination of the President or Vice-President.