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
- MAY 22, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the former chairman of a State-owned food enterprise...
the former chairman of a State-owned food enterprise...
MAY 21, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: TYCOON JAILED AFTER DEATH SENTENCE REVOKED
A former Chinese tycoon who was convicted of illegally raising money for her business has been sentenced
- MAY 21, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - A new National Registry of Exonerations – a database of over 2,000 prisoners exonerated since 1989
USA - A new National Registry of Exonerations – a database of over 2,000 prisoners exonerated since 1989
- MAY 21, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Roderick Harris, 27, black, to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Roderick Harris, 27, black, to death
- MAY 21, 2012DEATH PENALTY
USA: 15 STATES URGE FEDS TO HELP IMPORT LETHAL INJECTION DRUG
15 states urged the U.S. Justice Department to intervene to help import thiopental (brand name
MAY 21, 2012DEATH PENALTYUSA: REGISTRY TALLIES OVER 2,000 WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS SINCE 1989
The University of Michigan law school and Northwestern University have compiled a new National
- MAY 21, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 15 states urged the U.S. Justice Department to intervene to help import thiopental
USA - 15 states urged the U.S. Justice Department to intervene to help import thiopental
MAY 18, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO DEATH
Syrian authorities have sentenced to death for "treason" an activist who was arrested in April
- MAY 18, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun, 34, white, to death
USA - Florida. Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun, 34, white, to death
- MAY 16, 2012BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a speedy trial tribunal, in Bangladesh, sentenced two leaders...
a speedy trial tribunal, in Bangladesh, sentenced two leaders...
MAY 16, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: 5 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER DRUGS
A Malaysian court sentenced to death three Mexican brothers and two other people
MAY 15, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
In India, a Jharkhand court sentenced three persons to death for killing six members of a
- MAY 15, 2012PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury unanimously sentenced Jakeem Towles, 22, black, to death
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury unanimously sentenced Jakeem Towles, 22, black, to death
- MAY 15, 2012WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. A jury has sentenced Allen Eugene Gregory, 39, to death
USA - Washington. A jury has sentenced Allen Eugene Gregory, 39, to death
MAY 14, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man to the gallows after
MAY 14, 2012EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
an Egyptian court in Minya sentenced a Muslim man to death for the killing and wounding
MAY 13, 2012Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYGAZA: COURT OF CASSATION REJECTS DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL
A Gaza court has rejected an appeal against the death by hanging of a murder convict
- MAY 11, 2012DEATH PENALTY
USA: THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH URGES MISSOURI TO END ITS DEATH PENALTY
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch urged Missouri to end its death penalty as the system has
- MAY 11, 2012MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Judge Mary Sheffield sentenced Christopher Collings, 37, white, to death
USA - Missouri. Judge Mary Sheffield sentenced Christopher Collings, 37, white, to death
- MAY 11, 2012MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch urged Missouri to end its death penalty because of controversies involving its method of execution
USA - Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch urged Missouri to end its death penalty because of controversies involving its method of execution
- MAY 9, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: BEIJING TAX CHIEF GETS DEATH SENTENCE
The former chief of the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau was sentenced to death with a
MAY 9, 2012JordanDEATH PENALTYJORDAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPING, MURDERING NEIGHBOUR
In Jordan, the Criminal Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for raping and murdering a woman in Sweileh in January 2007.
- MAY 8, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: TWO GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In UAE, one Emirati and an Iranian were sentenced to capital punishment by the Dibba
- MAY 8, 2012Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
MYANMAR: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR 2010 BOMBING
A Myanmar court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to death for a bombing at a
- MAY 8, 2012AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Marqueze Smith, 32, black.
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Marqueze Smith, 32, black.
- MAY 7, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: KARNATAKA GOVT REJECTS MERCY PLEA OF SERIAL RAPIST UMESH REDDY
In India, the Karnataka government rejected the mercy plea of serial rapist B A Umesh
- MAY 6, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: ABU DHABI STUDENT TO BE EXECUTED FOR MURDER
In UAE, an Abu Dhabi college student is to be executed for murdering his friend after the emirate’s
- MAY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
- MAY 4, 2012DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): DEATH ROW INMATES SUE GOVERNOR PERRY AND SENATOR WHITMIRE FOR ABUSIVE CONDITIONS
Thomas Whitaker, 32, white, an inmate on Texas death row, has filed a class action
- MAY 4, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Death row inmates sues Texas governor Rick Perry and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for abusive conditions
USA - Texas. Death row inmates sues Texas governor Rick Perry and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for abusive conditions