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
- JANUARY 1, 2015South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
- JANUARY 1, 2015Guinea-BissauDEATH PENALTY
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
- JANUARY 1, 2015GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes include aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery.
Capital crimes include aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery.
- JANUARY 1, 2015IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2015Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
The sentence of death is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago.
The sentence of death is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago.
- JANUARY 1, 2015GuatemalaDEATH 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.
- DECEMBER 30, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Corey Lynn King to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Corey Lynn King to death
- DECEMBER 27, 2014TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
the Court of Appeal of the Governorate of Nabeul sentenced to death a young man who had stabbed to
the Court of Appeal of the Governorate of Nabeul sentenced to death a young man who had stabbed to
DECEMBER 24, 2014MauritaniaDEATH PENALTYMAURITANIA: FIRST APOSTASY DEATH SENTENCE
A 30-year-old Muslim man, Cheikh Ould Mohamed Ould Mkheitir, became the first person to be
DECEMBER 22, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAID FROM THAILAND SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A High Court in Malaysia sentenced a maid from Thailand to death after finding her guilty as charged for
- DECEMBER 22, 2014OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot ruled that Oklahoma's new execution protocol is not cruel or unusual and the state can resume executions
USA - Oklahoma. U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot ruled that Oklahoma's new execution protocol is not cruel or unusual and the state can resume executions
DECEMBER 21, 2014JordanDEATH PENALTYJORDAN: 11 EXECUTED AFTER 8-YEAR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
Eight years after Jordan suspended its death penalty, eleven death-row inmates convicted in different murder cases were executed by hanging, the Interior Ministry announced.
- DECEMBER 19, 2014Congo - BrazzavilleDEATH PENALTY
Michael Pambou, first president of the Court of Appeal of Pointe-Noire sentenced to death Nkaya Miyalou
Michael Pambou, first president of the Court of Appeal of Pointe-Noire sentenced to death Nkaya Miyalou
DECEMBER 19, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: TWO TERRORISTS EXECUTED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ENDED A MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL
two convicted terrorists were hanged in Pakistan just two days after the Nawaz Sharif government ended a
- DECEMBER 18, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN PREPARES TO EXECUTE 55 DEATH ROW INMATES
Pakistan is preparing to execute 55 inmates on death row after the country ended the moratorium on the
DECEMBER 18, 2014DEATH PENALTYUSA: EXECUTIONS, NEW DEATH SENTENCES CONTINUE TO FALL
Executions and new death sentences dropped to their lowest numbers in decades in 2014, an anti-death
- DECEMBER 17, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA TO PUT 54 SOLDIERS TO DEATH FOR REFUSAL TO FIGHT BOKO HARAM
A court martial in Nigeria has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for mutiny, assault, cowardice and refusing to
- DECEMBER 17, 2014TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury today sentenced Eric Williams, 47, White, to death.
USA - Texas. A jury today sentenced Eric Williams, 47, White, to death.
- DECEMBER 12, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED FOR MURDEROUS ACID ATTACK
The Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the capital punishment awarded to a man by the
- DECEMBER 11, 2014LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Judge Jerome Winsberg overturned the death sentence of David Brown, 41, Black
USA - Louisiana. Judge Jerome Winsberg overturned the death sentence of David Brown, 41, Black
- DECEMBER 9, 2014LibyaDEATH PENALTY
the court in Misrata has sentenced to death Salah Al-Fatouri Salah Al-Shushan, a former Qaddafi
the court in Misrata has sentenced to death Salah Al-Fatouri Salah Al-Shushan, a former Qaddafi
- DECEMBER 9, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Kwame Ajamu, 57, Black, Officially Exonerated, Becomes 150th Death Row Exoneree.
USA - Ohio. Kwame Ajamu, 57, Black, Officially Exonerated, Becomes 150th Death Row Exoneree.
- DECEMBER 8, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA SENTENCES EIGHT TO DEATH FOR KNIFE, BOMB ATTACKS IN RESTIVE XINJIANG
China sentenced eight people to death for their roles in two knife and bomb attacks this spring in the
DECEMBER 7, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: ANOTHER FOUR BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Cairo court sentenced to death four members of the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood over the killing of
DECEMBER 6, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: COURT SENTENCED SEVEN JIHADISTS TO DEATH IN SINAI CASE
An Egyptian court has sentenced to death seven men, including prominent Islamist militant Adel Habara,
- DECEMBER 4, 2014South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. Fredrick Evins has accepted a plea deal and received three consecutive life sentences
USA - South Carolina. Fredrick Evins has accepted a plea deal and received three consecutive life sentences
- DECEMBER 4, 2014DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. A jury has voted to recommend the death penalty for Otis Phillips
USA - Delaware. A jury has voted to recommend the death penalty for Otis Phillips
DECEMBER 4, 2014IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PRESIDENT ORDERS EXECUTION OF DEATH ROW CONVICTS
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ordered the execution of five death-row drug convicts this month, a move
- DECEMBER 4, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPE, MURDER OF 16-YR-OLD GIRL
A court in central Vietnam sentenced a man to death for raping and murdering a 16-year old girl two years
- DECEMBER 3, 2014SudanDEATH PENALTY
the Darfur Crimes Court sentenced seven people to death by hanging. They were found guilty
the Darfur Crimes Court sentenced seven people to death by hanging. They were found guilty