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 15, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: MALAYSIAN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
The Pekanbaru district court sentenced a Malaysian to death for smuggling 46.5 kilograms of
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2015SudanDEATH PENALTY
a Sudanese youth court issued a death sentence against two men who were found guilty of sexually abusing
a Sudanese youth court issued a death sentence against two men who were found guilty of sexually abusing
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015KenyaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: KENYAN GIRL SENTENCED TO HANG
A group of over 80 girls who were being detained at a deportation center in Saudi Arabia have arrived back in Kenya.
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2015ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. Gov. Hutchinson sets 8 execution dates after 10-year gap.
USA - Arkansas. Gov. Hutchinson sets 8 execution dates after 10-year gap.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2015KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. A jury recommended the death penalty today for Frazier Glenn Miller, a white supremacist
USA - Kansas. A jury recommended the death penalty today for Frazier Glenn Miller, a white supremacist
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2015TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
TAIWAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MURDERS
The Taiwan High Court upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of the 2013 murders of his ex-
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2015DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): WRONGLY CONVICTED BROTHERS EACH GET $750,000 IN COMPENSATION
The state of North Carolina sought to make amends, awarding each man $750,000 for the time they spent
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2015North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Wrongly convicted Henry McCollum and Leon Brown each get $750,000 in compensation
USA - North Carolina. Wrongly convicted Henry McCollum and Leon Brown each get $750,000 in compensation
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2015FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommends death penalty for Bessman Okafor
USA - Florida. A jury recommends death penalty for Bessman Okafor
AUGUST 29, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: CRIMES SUBJECT TO DEATH REDUCED
China amended the country's criminal law, tightening corruption sentencing, reclassifying sex with underage prostitutes as rape and eliminating the death penalty for nine crimes, state media reported.
AUGUST 28, 2015South KoreaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH KOREA: COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE OF MAN WHO KILLED GIRLFRIEND'S PARENTS
The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and death sentence of a collegian who killed the parents of his
- AUGUST 25, 2015FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Kelvin Wells sentenced Barry Davis Jr. to death.
USA - Florida. Judge Kelvin Wells sentenced Barry Davis Jr. to death.
- AUGUST 25, 2015NicaraguaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Human Rights Commission Calls for Stay of Execution for Bernardo Tercero
USA - Texas. Human Rights Commission Calls for Stay of Execution for Bernardo Tercero
- AUGUST 20, 2015AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Roderick P. Stout sentenced Heather Keaton, 26, White, to death.
USA - Alabama. Judge Roderick P. Stout sentenced Heather Keaton, 26, White, to death.
- AUGUST 19, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTY
two death row inmates were hanged in two different jails. Amjad Ali was executed in Gujranwala’s Central
two death row inmates were hanged in two different jails. Amjad Ali was executed in Gujranwala’s Central
- AUGUST 18, 2015MalawiDEATH PENALTY
23-year-old Dickson Elia was sentenced to death by the high court sitting in Dedza after being found guilty
23-year-old Dickson Elia was sentenced to death by the high court sitting in Dedza after being found guilty
AUGUST 6, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: THREE DEATH ROW PRISONERS HANGED
Three more death row prisoners were sent to the gallows in different jails of Punjab on early morning,
- AUGUST 6, 2015NevadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced Jeremiah Bean to death
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced Jeremiah Bean to death
AUGUST 4, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: SHAFQAT HUSSAIN HANGED IN KARACHI CENTRAL JAIL
Shafqat Hussain, who was awarded a death sentence for kidnapping and later killing a seven-year-old boy,
- JULY 30, 2015FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommended 3rd death sentence for Dontae Morris
USA - Florida. A jury recommended 3rd death sentence for Dontae Morris
- JULY 23, 2015FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for Randall Deviney
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for Randall Deviney
- JULY 23, 2015SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: FAMED OPPONENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Syrian government has reportedly sentenced five leading opponents of the regime, including dissident intellectual Michel Kilo and Al-Jazeera journalist Faisal al-Qassem, to death in absentia.
- JULY 22, 2015ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Jasper Phillip Rushing to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Jasper Phillip Rushing to death
JULY 22, 2015GambiaDEATH PENALTYGAMBIA: PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH GRANTS PARDONS BUT COUP PLOTTERS REMAIN ON DEATH ROW
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh pardoned several death-row inmates on July 22, the 21st anniversary of his arrival to power, but notably excluded those accused of launching a failed coup in December.
JULY 22, 2015Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTYTOBAGO: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE
Uriah Woods was sentenced to death in Tobago for the murder of his wife Sandra Miller and attempted
JULY 16, 2015BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: SPECIAL COURT ORDERS NEW WAR CRIMES DEATH SENTENCE
A Bangladeshi special court handed down the latest in a line of death sentences to a former political
JULY 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: LIVES OF TWO PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER SPARED BY PLAINTIFFS
According to official reports by state run media Hamshahri Online, two prisoners who were sentenced to
JULY 16, 2015Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTYTRINIDAD: PRIVY COUNCIL REFUSES TO COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCE...FIRST TIME IN 22 YEARS
For the first time in 22 years, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), by a majority ruling,
JULY 15, 2015IsraelDEATH PENALTYISRAEL: KNESSET REJECTS BILL ON DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS
The Knesset voted down a bill proposed by Yisrael Beytenu that would have enabled judges to more easily sentence a terrorist to death.
- JULY 15, 2015NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: KILLER OF EX-OGUN MAGISTRATE SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 22-year-old man, David Idah, was sentenced to death by hanging for killing a retired chief magistrate in Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Timeyin.