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
OCTOBER 1, 2013BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 7TH OPPOSITION LAWMAKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
Bangladesh's war crimes tribunal sentenced a senior opposition leader and lawmaker to death in the seventh such verdict by the body set up to probe abuses during the country's bloody struggle for independence.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD ON CONTROVERSIAL RAPE-MURDER CASE
The high court of north China's Hebei Province upheld the death sentence on murder
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2013KenyaDEATH PENALTY
an Iten court, in Kenya, has sentenced a 24-year-old man
an Iten court, in Kenya, has sentenced a 24-year-old man
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013DEATH PENALTYGAZA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The high court in Gaza sentenced a man to death after convicting him of murdering his wife.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2013CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Jeffrey Aguilar, 27, Hispanic
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Jeffrey Aguilar, 27, Hispanic
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: THREE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Ho Chi Minh City City People's Court sentenced three members of a drug trafficking ring to death.
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2013Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
The court of first instance in Gaza sentenced Faris al-Ashram to death, after he was convicted
The court of first instance in Gaza sentenced Faris al-Ashram to death, after he was convicted
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2013IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
UAE: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAID WHO KILLED BABY TO SPITE NANNY
A maid who murdered a baby to spite the child’s nanny has been sentenced to death in the UAE.
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2013FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals restores Thomas Knight's death sentence
USA - Florida. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals restores Thomas Knight's death sentence
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: COURT GIVES DEATH TO MAN WHO STRIPPED, MURDERED PARENTS
Om Prakash, 25, who stripped his aged parents before killing them, was convicted and sentenced
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MILITARY DENIES PASSING DEATH SENTENCE ON SOLDIERS
The Nigerian Army, 3 Armored Division, Maxwell Kobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos, has
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS CONFIRMS DEATH FOR DOUBLE MURDERER
The Supreme Court of Belarus confirmed the death sentence for a man convicted of killing two people last year after police caught him transporting a decapitated head from one of the bodies.
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2013BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: ABDUL KADER MULLAH GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR WAR CRIMES
Bangladesh's highest court has sentenced to death a leader of the main Islamist party convicted of crimes against humanity during the war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2013CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for serial killer Joseph Naso.
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for serial killer Joseph Naso.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 18 SOLDIERS GET DEATH, JAIL TERMS OVER BOKO HARAM
For their alleged links to Boko Haram, some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will
SEPTEMBER 15, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO AHWAZI ARABS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER PIPELINE ATTACK
Two Ahwazi Arabs have been sentenced to death by a notorious judge who is currently
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 4 MEN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCES IN GANG RAPE
A judge sentenced to death the four men convicted in the December gang rape and murder of a young New Delhi woman, ordering them to the gallows for a brutal attack on a bus that left the young woman with such severe internal injuries that she died two wee
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: THREE GET DEATH SENTENCE IN SENDHWA BUS FIRE CASE
A court in Barwani, India, handed down death sentence to three staffers of a bus and life imprisonment
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH ROW INMATE HANGED; 6TH EXECUTION SINCE ABE BECAME PM
Japan hanged a 73-year-old man, bringing to six the number of inmates executed since the conservative government of Shinzo Abe came to power in December.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER XINJIANG ATTACK
A court in China's western region of Xinjiang sentenced three ethnic Uighurs to death
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal Court Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
the Federal Court Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Ishmael Conteh ALIAS Jamil was sentenced to death for murder.
Ishmael Conteh ALIAS Jamil was sentenced to death for murder.
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTY
a driver who murdered his former employer and his four family
a driver who murdered his former employer and his four family
SEPTEMBER 5, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: HUSBAND SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Sri Lanka, a man was sentenced to death by the Panadura Magistrate for murdering his
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2013FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommend death for Donald Williams, 53, White.
USA - Florida. A jury recommend death for Donald Williams, 53, White.
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2013AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Brian Howell sentenced Nicholas Smith, 24, Black, to death
USA - Alabama. Judge Brian Howell sentenced Nicholas Smith, 24, Black, to death
- AUGUST 31, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
one person was sentenced to death
one person was sentenced to death
- AUGUST 30, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTY
two people were given the death sentence twice and another
two people were given the death sentence twice and another
AUGUST 29, 2013DEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: TOP COURT REJECTS BALI DEATH-ROW BRITON'S APPEAL
At a closed hearing at the Supreme Court in Jakarta, a three-judge panel unanimously rejected