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 3, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR ROLE IN AL-QAEDA CELL
A Saudi court sentenced a Saudi citizen to death for helping al-Qaeda carry out terrorist attacks in the
DECEMBER 2, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: 188 DEATH SENTENCES IN MASS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT VERDICT
Giza's criminal court sentenced 188 defendants to death for a violent attack on a police station after last
DECEMBER 2, 2014IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PRESIDENT RULES OUT CLEMENCY FOR DEATH-ROW DRUG CONVICTS
Indonesian President Joko Widodo ruled out granting clemency to convicted drug traffickers sentenced to death, a senior minister said.
- NOVEMBER 28, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA IMPOSES DEATH SENTENCE FOR BIBLE SMUGGLING
In a recent official statement from the Saudi Arabian government, the death sentence will now be imposed
- NOVEMBER 28, 2014SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Mohd Jeefrey Jamil, a 49-year-old drug courier has been given the death penalty after he failed to receive a
Mohd Jeefrey Jamil, a 49-year-old drug courier has been given the death penalty after he failed to receive a
- NOVEMBER 27, 2014MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
the Criminal Court has sentenced Mohamed Niyaz of Kaaf Thulusdhoo Redrose to death after he was
the Criminal Court has sentenced Mohamed Niyaz of Kaaf Thulusdhoo Redrose to death after he was
NOVEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT UPHELD A DEATH SENTENCE FOR INSULTING THE PROPHET ON FACEBOOK
Branch 41 of the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of the blogger Soheil Arabi for insulting the Prophet on the Facebook.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Richard Raymond Ramirez to death.
USA - California. A jury sentenced Richard Raymond Ramirez to death.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Tyrone Harts to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Tyrone Harts to death
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Ricky Jackson and Wiley Bridgeman walked free Friday morning after spending 39 years behind bars.
USA - Ohio. Ricky Jackson and Wiley Bridgeman walked free Friday morning after spending 39 years behind bars.
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. Judge Steven O'Neill imposed death sentences to Raghunandan Yandamuri
USA - Pennsylvania. Judge Steven O'Neill imposed death sentences to Raghunandan Yandamuri
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommends death penalty for Ocie Lee Lynch
USA - Alabama. A jury recommends death penalty for Ocie Lee Lynch
- NOVEMBER 19, 2014DEATH PENALTY
USA: RICKY JACKSON EXONERATED IN OHIO
A Cleveland judge dropped all charges against a man who has spent 39 years in prison for murder, making
- NOVEMBER 19, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Judge Richard McMonagle dismissed all charges against Ricky Jackson
USA - Ohio. Judge Richard McMonagle dismissed all charges against Ricky Jackson
- NOVEMBER 18, 2014PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Charles Ray Hicks to death.
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Charles Ray Hicks to death.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES SIX MEN TO DEATH FOR AL-SHABAAB LINKS
Puntland military court sentenced six men to death after being found of guilty linked to Somalia’s militant
- NOVEMBER 16, 2014United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Lawyers for Death Row Inmates Missed Critical Filing Deadlines in 80 Cases
USA - Lawyers for Death Row Inmates Missed Critical Filing Deadlines in 80 Cases.
NOVEMBER 16, 2014KuwaitDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT: SIHAM’S MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The criminal court in Kuwait sentenced an Ethiopian maid who stabbed her employer’s daughter to death.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2014Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
a Congolese army officer and four Ugandan rebels were sentenced to death for the killing of a colonel,
a Congolese army officer and four Ugandan rebels were sentenced to death for the killing of a colonel,
NOVEMBER 13, 2014BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: FUGITIVE ZAHID HOSSAIN SENTENCED TO DEATH
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) 1 sentenced fugitive MA Zahid Hossain to death on six charges of
NOVEMBER 13, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: 975 PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW AWAITING APPEALS
A total of 975 prisoners sentenced to death for various offences are awaiting appeals at the Court of
NOVEMBER 12, 2014ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: DEC OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING SUSPECT
A 45-year-old Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) investigations officer of Kasama has been sentenced
- NOVEMBER 12, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES TWO OFFICERS TO DEATH
Somali military court has sentenced two soldiers to death sentences for murder and rape cases respectively.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2014MalawiDEATH PENALTY
MALAWI: COURTS TO RE-HEAR CASES OF PRISONERS ON MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY
Malawi’s judiciary has said it will soon sit to re-hear cases of prisoners who were previously sentenced to
NOVEMBER 10, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: FAMILY OF DEAD MAID ACCEPTS BLOOD MONEY
Four men facing the death penalty in the UAE for raping, killing and dismembering an Ethiopian maid five
- NOVEMBER 7, 2014AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Jurors recommended the death penalty for John DeBlase
USA - Alabama. Jurors recommended the death penalty for John DeBlase
NOVEMBER 6, 2014KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLERS OF ITALIAN BISHOP
A Kenyan Roman Catholic priest and four others were sentenced to death by a court in Nairobi for
NOVEMBER 6, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: FOUR RAPISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NILE DELTA
Four men were sentenced to death for raping a woman in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2014ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. Inmate Latavious Johnson sentenced to death for stabbing guard.
USA - Arkansas. Inmate Latavious Johnson sentenced to death for stabbing guard.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2014NevadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced Ralph "Macky" Jeremias to death
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced Ralph "Macky" Jeremias to death