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
NOVEMBER 6, 2014BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: MAN TO WALK GALLOWS FOR KILLING WIFE IN BOGRA
A tribunal in Bogra, Bangladesh, convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing his wife in 1997 for
NOVEMBER 5, 2014SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WOMAN
A Khartoum criminal court sentenced a police officer to death for killing Awadiya Ajabna on the outskirts of
NOVEMBER 5, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER HE BEHEADED A UNIVERSITY STUDENT
The Banadir Regional Court sentenced to death a man who was found guilty of killing a university student
NOVEMBER 4, 2014KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEFILING MINOR
A 34 year-old man has been sentenced to death in Kenya after he was found guilty of defiling a six year-old
- NOVEMBER 1, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Francisco Beltran Jr., 24, Hispanic, to death.
USA - California. A jury sentenced Francisco Beltran Jr., 24, Hispanic, to death.
- OCTOBER 31, 2014TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Steven Thomas, 56, White, to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Steven Thomas, 56, White, to death
- OCTOBER 31, 2014GuyanaDEATH PENALTY
Robert Browne was sentenced to death this month for murder in Guyana.
Robert Browne was sentenced to death this month for murder in Guyana.
OCTOBER 31, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: MAN WHO KILLED TODDLER IN PARKING ROW EXECUTED
A Chinese man who killed a two-year-old girl after a row with her mother over a parking space was
- OCTOBER 30, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury recommended death penalty for Shawn Ford Jr., 20, Black
USA - Ohio. A jury recommended death penalty for Shawn Ford Jr., 20, Black
OCTOBER 30, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH FOR FIVE INDIAN FISHERMEN
The Colombo High Court awarded the death sentence to five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri
- OCTOBER 30, 2014IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
USA - Illinois. Wrongfully convicted man, Alstory Simon, 64, Black, freed after 15 years in prison.
USA - Illinois. Wrongfully convicted man, Alstory Simon, 64, Black, freed after 15 years in prison.
OCTOBER 29, 2014BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: NIZAMI TO BE HANGED FOR WAR CRIMES
Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was awarded death sentence for committing crimes against
- OCTOBER 28, 2014FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Jury recommends death penalty for Dwayne White, 44, Black
USA - Florida. Jury recommends death penalty for Dwayne White, 44, Black
- OCTOBER 28, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT ORDERS STAY OF EXECUTION ON CONVICTED SOLDIERS
A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Army to stay execution on the death sentence passed
OCTOBER 28, 2014SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER ESCAPES DEATH PENALTY UNDER AMENDED LAWS
A 29-year-old Malaysian condemned to hang in 2009 for drug trafficking had his
- OCTOBER 27, 2014BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: ONE TO WALK THE GALLOWS IN NATORE
In Bangladesh, a Natore court has sentenced one person to death for killing a class nine student in broad
- OCTOBER 24, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: A MAN WHO CHEATED HANGMAN AT GALLOWS FREED AFTER 19 YEARS
OCTOBER 21, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO AWAMIYAH RIOTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced to death two men convicted of taking part in rioting in Al-
- OCTOBER 21, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: HIGH COURT RULES OUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The High Court cannot impose the death penalty on murderers in Zimbabwe until the legislature enacts a law
OCTOBER 20, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING OMANI
One of three cousins accused of killing an Omani during a hunting trip in the desert had his death sentence
- OCTOBER 16, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: WOMAN'S FATHER, UNCLE GET DEATH SENTENCE IN HONOUR KILLING CASE
In a 2012 case of honour killing, a court in Punjab awarded death sentence to the victim woman's father,
- OCTOBER 15, 2014SeychellesDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY IMPOSED ON THREE SEYCHELLES NATIONALS
The highest Court of Appeal in Egypt has upheld the death penalty imposed on three Seychellois nationals
OCTOBER 15, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: OUTSPOKEN SHI'ITE CLERIC SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Saudi judge sentenced to death an outspoken Shi'ite Muslim cleric whose arrest two years ago prompted
- OCTOBER 14, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND: HIGH COURT HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO FORMER POLICE OFFICER FOR KILLING FELLOW OFFICER
The High Court sentenced a Maulid Mohamed Sudi, police officer to death for the killing of his fellow police
- OCTOBER 14, 2014AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN TO REVIEW CASES OF 400 CONVICTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Presidential Palace officials have said the government will review the cases of 400 convicts sentenced
- OCTOBER 14, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: COURT SIGNALS DEATH PENALTY FOR 7 JIHADISTS IN SINAI CASE
An Egyptian court has recommended death sentences for seven men, including a prominent Islamist militant,
- OCTOBER 14, 2014PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Raghunandan Yandamuri to death
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Raghunandan Yandamuri to death
- OCTOBER 13, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND MILITARY COURT SENTENCES A MAN TO DEATH FOR PLOTTING LANDMINE
Puntland Military court sentenced to death a man who was found guilty for plotting a landmine.
- OCTOBER 9, 2014PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Timothy Jacoby to death.
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Timothy Jacoby to death.
- OCTOBER 9, 2014AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended that Marcus Benn should be put to death
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended that Marcus Benn should be put to death