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
- AUGUST 21, 2012AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
in Afghanistan, fifteen Afghan field commanders...
in Afghanistan, fifteen Afghan field commanders...
- AUGUST 21, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
- AUGUST 20, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a 46-year-old Chinese man was sentenced to death
a 46-year-old Chinese man was sentenced to death
- AUGUST 20, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Bogu Kailai, wife of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai...
Bogu Kailai, wife of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai...
- AUGUST 16, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Timothy Hurst, 32, to death
USA - Florida. Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Timothy Hurst, 32, to death
- AUGUST 15, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
a 25-year-old man facing the death penalty...
a 25-year-old man facing the death penalty...
- AUGUST 15, 2012ThailandDEATH PENALTY
The Thai Criminal Court sentenced a former
The Thai Criminal Court sentenced a former
- AUGUST 14, 2012EgyptDEATH PENALTY
an Egyptian court sentenced 14 Islamists...
an Egyptian court sentenced 14 Islamists...
- AUGUST 14, 2012OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Judge John M. Stuard resentenced Jackson, 40, to death
USA - Ohio. Judge John M. Stuard resentenced Jackson, 40, to death
- AUGUST 14, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Jury recommends death penalty for Delmer Smith, 41
USA - Florida. Jury recommends death penalty for Delmer Smith, 41
- AUGUST 13, 2012KenyaDEATH PENALTY
a Kenyan woman was sentenced to death
a Kenyan woman was sentenced to death
- AUGUST 11, 2012ThailandDEATH PENALTY
58 prisoners condemned to death had their sentences commuted by a Royal Pardon
58 prisoners condemned to death had their sentences commuted by a Royal Pardon
- AUGUST 10, 2012CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Michael Barbar, 55
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Michael Barbar, 55
- AUGUST 9, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury has recommended the death penalty for William Davis, 33, white
USA - Florida. A jury has recommended the death penalty for William Davis, 33, white
- AUGUST 3, 2012OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. Judge Timothy Alexander ruled that Gary Haugen, who wants to be executed, is not required to accept clemency from Governor John Kitzhaber.
USA - Oregon. Judge Timothy Alexander ruled that Gary Haugen, who wants to be executed, is not required to accept clemency from Governor John Kitzhaber.
AUGUST 2, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FILIPINO EX-CON SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR MURDER
The High Court in Malaysia sent a Filipino ex-convict to the gallows after he was found guilty
- AUGUST 1, 2012DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): DEATH ROW INMATE'S SENTENCE REDUCED TO LIFE
Delma Banks, 53, black, one of the longest serving inmates in Texas death-penalty history, received
- AUGUST 1, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Delma Banks, 53, black, one of the longest serving inmates in Texas, received a life sentence
USA - Texas. Delma Banks, 53, black, one of the longest serving inmates in Texas, received a life sentence
- JULY 31, 2012South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. Joseph Ard, 41, white, who spent 11 years on South Carolina's death row, was freed from prison
USA - South Carolina. Joseph Ard, 41, white, who spent 11 years on South Carolina's death row, was freed from prison
- JULY 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR IRAN'S BIGGEST BANK FRAUD
A Tehran court has sentenced to death four people convicted in Iran's biggest-ever banking
JULY 30, 2012ThailandDEATH PENALTYTHAILAND: DEATH SENTENCE FOR 3 EX-COPS
In Thailand, the Criminal Court handed down the death sentence for three former
- JULY 28, 2012ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. Jerry Lard, 38, white, was sentenced to death.
USA - Arkansas. Jerry Lard, 38, white, was sentenced to death.
- JULY 27, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Richard Luce sentenced Patrick Evans, 44, white, to death
USA - Florida. Judge Richard Luce sentenced Patrick Evans, 44, white, to death
JULY 27, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR GANGSTER-BUSINESSMAN
An appeals court in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam upheld the death
- JULY 26, 2012GambiaDEATH PENALTY
In Gambia, Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal in Banjul convicted and sentenced
In Gambia, Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal in Banjul convicted and sentenced
JULY 26, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CORRUPTION
A development zone official in a south China city was sentenced to death over land-related
- JULY 25, 2012MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced David Dickerson, 41, white, to death
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced David Dickerson, 41, white, to death
- JULY 18, 2012DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): YOKAMON HEARN EXECUTED WITH PENTOBARBITAL
The US state of Texas has executed its first death row inmate with a single lethal injection of the sedative pentobarbital. Yokamon Hearn, 33, was convicted for the carjacking and murder of a Dallas stockbroker in 1998.
JULY 18, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: JOHOR SULTAN PARDONS EIGHT PRISONERS
In Malaysia, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim has consented to grant full
JULY 18, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: YOUNG MOTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Sri Lanka, a young mother who was convicted under the Dangerous Drugs Act for possessing