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
DECEMBER 18, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS HANGED
Japan executed two death row prisoners, including the nation's first of a condemned inmate sentenced by jurors, officials and media said, as campaigners called for the country to abolish capital punishment.
DECEMBER 15, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MAN SERVING LIFE FOR MURDER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ANOTHER MURDER
A 40-year-old man already convicted of killing a woman in Aichi Prefecture in 2007 was sentenced to death for a murder in 1998.
- DECEMBER 14, 2015OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Rayshawn Johnson sentenced to life without parole.
USA - Ohio. Rayshawn Johnson sentenced to life without parole.
- DECEMBER 14, 2015CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Ka Pasasouk
USA - California. Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Ka Pasasouk
DECEMBER 14, 2015United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR JOINING TERRORIST ORGANISATION
Zayed Yaslam Ali, an Emirati, was sentenced to death in absentia for joining a terrorist organisation, the Federal Supreme Court ruled.
DECEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG MAN EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged a 20-year-old man in public in the city of Noshahr, northern Iran.
DECEMBER 8, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING BRITONS
The Court of Appeal in Kuching, Malaysia, dismissed the appeal of a fishmonger who was convicted and
DECEMBER 6, 2015EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: JIHADIST SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER POLICEMAN’S KILLING
An Egyptian court sentenced a leading jihadist to death by hanging after convicting him of killing a policeman.
- DECEMBER 4, 2015AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Jurors returned a unanimous recommendation that Kevin Andre Towles be sentenced to die.
USA - Alabama. Jurors returned a unanimous recommendation that Kevin Andre Towles be sentenced to die.
- DECEMBER 4, 2015CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Arlan Harrell sentenced Eddie Ricky Nealy to death.
USA - California. Judge Arlan Harrell sentenced Eddie Ricky Nealy to death.
- DECEMBER 4, 2015FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge William Fuente handed down a 3rd death penalty sentence for Dontae Morris
USA - Florida. Judge William Fuente handed down a 3rd death penalty sentence for Dontae Morris
DECEMBER 4, 2015Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: DOUBLE COP KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RANGOON
Rangoon’s Southern District Court handed down the death penalty to a man found guilty of murdering two
DECEMBER 3, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER, FRAUD AT SHANXI MINES
Four people were sentenced to death in north China's Shanxi Province for murder, fraud and blackmail in a
DECEMBER 3, 2015EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: COURT OF CASSATION WITHDRAWS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SUPREME GUIDE, OTHERS
Egypt’s Court of Cassation withdrew the death sentences issued to Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide
- DECEMBER 2, 2015DEATH PENALTY
ALABAMA (USA): DONNIS MUSGROVE DIES ON DEATH ROW BEFORE FEDERAL COURT CAN DECIDE HIS INNOCENCE CLAIM
Donnis Musgrove, 67, White, an Alabama death row prisoner with a substantial claim of innocence, died of
- DECEMBER 2, 2015AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Donnis Musgrove Dies on Death Row Before Federal Court Can Decide His Innocence Claim.
USA - Alabama. Donnis Musgrove Dies on Death Row Before Federal Court Can Decide His Innocence Claim.
- DECEMBER 1, 2015OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court has set aside the death penalty for Rayshawn Johnson
USA - Ohio. The Ohio Supreme Court has set aside the death penalty for Rayshawn Johnson
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced William Mason to death.
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced William Mason to death.
NOVEMBER 30, 2015BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: COURTS IN SIX DISTRICTS SENTENCE 29 TO DEATH IN SEVEN SEPARATE MURDER CASES
Altogether twenty-nine people were sentenced to death in seven separate murder cases in six districts in Bangladesh.
NOVEMBER 30, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: CHINESE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING IN SYABU
A Chinese national was sentenced to death by hanging after she was found guilty of trafficking drugs into
NOVEMBER 27, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: BUSINESS EXECUTIVES SENTENCED TO DEATH
The HCM City People's Court handed down death penalties to two former business executives for
- NOVEMBER 26, 2015SudanDEATH PENALTY
the special Darfur Criminal Court in Khartoum sentenced 18 people belonging to the rebel Sudan Liberation
the special Darfur Criminal Court in Khartoum sentenced 18 people belonging to the rebel Sudan Liberation
- NOVEMBER 26, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Colombo High Courts have issued the death sentence to two individuals from the same family.
NOVEMBER 25, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: TRANSPLANT CHIEF DENIES BREAKING VOW TO BAN PRISONERS’ ORGANS
A top Chinese health official has denied that the country’s new organ transplant system allows organs to be
- NOVEMBER 23, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTY
ODISHA (INDIA): FIVE GET DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF MINOR
A local court in Odisha’s Keonjhar district pronounced death sentence to five accused in the rape and
NOVEMBER 22, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: SULTAN IBRAHIM GRANTS CLEMENCY TO FOUR ON DEATH ROW
The Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has granted clemency to four prisoners on death row
- NOVEMBER 22, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ: 3 DEATH SENTENCES FOR JOURNALIST'S KILLERS
The Iraqi Central Criminal Court announced the death verdict against three convicts who were charged of killing the Iraqi journalist Nadhim Na'eem al-Qaisi.
NOVEMBER 20, 2015BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH ON MURDER CHARGES
A man was sentenced to death on charges of murder in Belarus, the only nation in Europe that still has capital punishment.
NOVEMBER 20, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PALESTINIAN POET SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR APOSTASY
A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a Palestinian poet to death for apostasy, abandoning his Muslim faith,
- NOVEMBER 20, 2015CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended that Joseph Mercado be sentenced to death
USA - California. A jury recommended that Joseph Mercado be sentenced to death