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 3, 2014North CarolinaDEATH PENALTYUSA: TWO MEN HAVING SERVED 31 YEARS, ONE ON DEATH ROW, ARE EXONERATED IN NORTH CAROLINA
Henry Lee McCollum, 50, who has spent three decades on death row, and Leon Brown, 46, who was serving a life sentence, were released from prison in North Carolina.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DOCTOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF A GARMENT FACTORY WORKER
A Sri Lankan court sentenced a medical doctor to death for the rape and murder of a young garment
SEPTEMBER 2, 2014TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST KILLER ARSONIST
The Supreme Court of Taiwan upheld the death sentence against a man who was convicted of killing five
SEPTEMBER 2, 2014BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING WIFE IN PATUAKHALI
In Bangladesh, a Patuakhali district court sentenced a man to death for killing his wife in Galachipa upazila
SEPTEMBER 1, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT MUKHERJEE REJECTED 97% OF MERCY PETITIONS, BUT HE FAILED TO CURB CRIME
President Pranab Mukherjee of India has rejected 97% of the mercy petitions in his two-year tenure, as of
AUGUST 29, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: TWO DEATH-ROW INMATES EXECUTED IN SENDAI AND TOKYO
Japan executed two multiple killers, bringing to 11 the total number of death sentences carried out since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took power in 2012.
AUGUST 28, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: TWO MORSI SUPPORTERS GET DEATH PENALTY, 43 OTHERS LIFE IN JAIL
- AUGUST 28, 2014ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Bryan Hulsey to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Bryan Hulsey to death
AUGUST 26, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES A JOURNALIST’S KILLER TO DEATH
AUGUST 26, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: 12 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH ON TERRORIST CHARGES
between 23 and 26 August 2014, twelve people were sentenced to death on terrorism-related charges in two separate cases.
AUGUST 22, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: HIGH COURT FREES MAN AFTER SIX YEARS ON DEATH ROW
- AUGUST 21, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury choose death penalty for Kesaun Kedron Sykes
USA - California. A jury choose death penalty for Kesaun Kedron Sykes
- AUGUST 21, 2014GermanyDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: GERMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER IN XIAMEN
a German was sentenced to death in China for the first time in modern history. The 36-year-old man was convicted of a double murder in Xiamen in 2010. Germany has vowed to stop the execution.
AUGUST 20, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: RAILWAY OFFICIAL GETS DEATH SENTENCE ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
AUGUST 19, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 3 MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH, 26 JAILED ON TERRORISM CHARGES
AUGUST 17, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FORMER ARMY SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOMALILAND
- AUGUST 15, 2014IndianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Indiana. Judge Susan Orth sentenced William Clyde Gibson to death
USA - Indiana. Judge Susan Orth sentenced William Clyde Gibson to death
- AUGUST 14, 2014MaliDEATH PENALTY
the Court of Assizes of Bamako sentenced four people – Bassidiki Touré, Souleymane
the Court of Assizes of Bamako sentenced four people – Bassidiki Touré, Souleymane
AUGUST 14, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 6 GET DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
- AUGUST 11, 2014TennesseeDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. Tennessee fights release of execution team identities.
USA - Tennessee. Tennessee fights release of execution team identities.
- AUGUST 9, 2014South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
about 20 South Korean nationals are death row inmates in China, according to the Ministry of Foreign
about 20 South Korean nationals are death row inmates in China, according to the Ministry of Foreign
- AUGUST 6, 2014MaliDEATH PENALTY
the Court of Assizes of Bamako sentenced 24-year-old Sounkodjan alias Bah Diarra to death a man after
the Court of Assizes of Bamako sentenced 24-year-old Sounkodjan alias Bah Diarra to death a man after
AUGUST 5, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAGICIAN, MURDERER EXECUTED
Two Saudis were beheaded in the border town of Gurayyat in the Al-Jouf province, an Interior Ministry
AUGUST 5, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: CHARITY GROUP PAYS DIYA TO VICTIM’S FAMILY
An Emirati sentenced to death in Ras Al Khaimah escaped execution after blood money for the victim’s
JULY 31, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 8 PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY PANADURA AND RATNAPURA HIGH COURTS
in Sri Lanka, 8 persons were sentenced to death in two different cases.
- JULY 30, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MONERAGALA HC HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE
An individual who had sexually abused and killed a six year old boy was handed the death
- JULY 29, 2014TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Harlem Lewis III, 23, Black, to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Harlem Lewis III, 23, Black, to death
- JULY 28, 2014KentuckyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kentucky. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Larry Lamont White
USA - Kentucky. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Larry Lamont White
JULY 25, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYCHINA: JAPANESE MAN EXECUTED OVER STIMULANT DRUG SMUGGLING
Chinese authorities executed a Japanese man in his 50s who had been sentenced to death in connection with
- JULY 25, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER POLICE OFFICER’S MURDER
The brutal murder of an Ajman Police officer three years ago has been finally laid to rest with the Ajman