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 3, 2012DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. A jury recommended the death penalty for James Cooke Jr., 41, black
USA - Delaware. A jury recommended the death penalty for James Cooke Jr., 41, black
- MAY 1, 2012DEATH PENALTY
OKLAHOMA (USA): MICHAEL BASCUM SELSOR EXECUTED FOR 1975 MURDER
May 1st, 2012: Michael Bascum Selsor, 57, white, was executed in Oklahoma.
- MAY 1, 2012OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Michael Bascum Selsor, 57, white, was executed.
USA - Oklahoma. Michael Bascum Selsor, 57, white, was executed.
- APRIL 30, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR PROSTITUTE MURDERERS
In Dubai, two men handed the death penalty for the murder of a prostitute failed in their bid
APRIL 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR GHOLAMREZA KHOSRAVI
Iran’s Supreme Court has approved a death sentence for Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani, a
APRIL 29, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF SERVANT WHO KILLED 3 PERSONS
President Pratibha Patil of India commuted the death sentence of a domestic help, who
- APRIL 26, 2012ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Supreme Court judge Gregory Phiri has sentenced six men of Lusaka...
Supreme Court judge Gregory Phiri has sentenced six men of Lusaka...
APRIL 26, 2012LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: DEATH SENTENCE ORDERED AGAINST 26 SUSPECTS LINKED TO ESTONIAN ABDUCTION
In Lebanon, the military tribunal issued the death sentence against 26 individuals for
- APRIL 26, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge William Hallman sentenced Carl Dausch, 53, white, to death
USA - Florida. Judge William Hallman sentenced Carl Dausch, 53, white, to death
APRIL 25, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DRUG GANG BOSS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The leader of a drug gang that transported 11 kilograms of synthetic heroin besides marijuana
- APRIL 25, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. The Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the death sentence of Christian Olsen, 24, white
USA - Texas. The Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the death sentence of Christian Olsen, 24, white
- APRIL 24, 2012JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN: BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN TAFILEH MURDER
The Criminal Court in Jordan sentenced two brothers to death for murdering an educator in Tafileh
APRIL 23, 2012LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: 2 MEN SENTENCED IN ABSENTIA FOR COLLABORATING WITH ISRAEL
In Lebanon, the Military Judiciary issued a death sentence in absentia against a Lebanese man
- APRIL 20, 2012DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): JUDGE OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE UNDER RACIAL JUSTICE ACT
In North Carolina, Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks ordered Marcus
APRIL 20, 2012TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: PRESIDENT VOWS TO WORK TOWARD ENDING DEATH PENALTY
In Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou said his administration would reduce the use of the
APRIL 20, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: THREE AWARDED DEATH SENTENCE
An anti terrorism court in Sargodha, Pakistan, awarded ten times death sentence to three
- APRIL 20, 2012North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Judge Overturns Death Sentence Under Racial Justice Act
USA - North Carolina. Judge Overturns Death Sentence Under Racial Justice Act
APRIL 20, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FOREIGN NATIONAL TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, a fish monger from India was sentenced to death by the High Court
- APRIL 19, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a court in China's southwestern Chongqing municipality...
a court in China's southwestern Chongqing municipality...
- APRIL 19, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTY
three people have been sentenced to death in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
three people have been sentenced to death in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- APRIL 19, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DRUG GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A court in China's southwestern Chongqing municipality has sentenced seven people
- APRIL 18, 2012AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Michael Conaway sentenced Jerry Jerome Smith, 39, black, to death for the 3rd time
USA - Alabama. Judge Michael Conaway sentenced Jerry Jerome Smith, 39, black, to death for the 3rd time
APRIL 18, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH PENALTY STATUS QUO
As many as 313 people, including six women, were sentenced to death by various
APRIL 17, 2012BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: TWO TO WALK GALLOWS FOR MURDER
In Bangladesh, a Speedy Trial Tribunal of Rajshahi division sentenced two people to death
- APRIL 15, 2012Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: ARAB SELLER OF MACHPELA HOUSE SENTENCED TO DEATH
in keeping with its policy prohibiting the sale of lands to Jews, the Palestinian Authority
- APRIL 14, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES AL SHABAB MEMBERS TO DEATH
A court in Bosasso town, the commercial hub of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, sentenced four men to death after alleging they were Al Shabab members in Puntland and carrying out assassinations in the region, RBC Radio reports.
APRIL 13, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 5 KIDNAPPERS AWARDED DEATH
In Pakistan, an anti-terrorism court awarded death sentence to five persons on charges
- APRIL 10, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
FIVE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED IN CHINA
Five drug traffickers were sentenced in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, with
- APRIL 9, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a Ho Chi Minh City court, Vietnam...
a Ho Chi Minh City court, Vietnam...
- APRIL 6, 2012AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Larry Randell Smith, 42, white, sentenced to death in 1996, was released today
USA - Alabama. Larry Randell Smith, 42, white, sentenced to death in 1996, was released today