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
- FEBRUARY 7, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
the Higher Judicial Council said in a statement that Iraq has sentenced to death
the Higher Judicial Council said in a statement that Iraq has sentenced to death a Saudi man who was an Al-Qaeda leader in northern Iraq.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2012South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. Judge Bradley Zell sentenced Rodney Berget, 49, white, to death
USA - South Dakota. Judge Bradley Zell sentenced Rodney Berget, 49, white, to death
FEBRUARY 6, 2012DEATH PENALTYSOUTH DAKOTA: PRISON INMATE SENTENCED TO DIE FOR BASHING GUARD TO DEATH DURING BOTCHED ESCAPE ATTEMPT
Second Circuit Judge Bradley Zell sentenced Rodney Berget, 49, white, to death for
FEBRUARY 6, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: KIDNAPPER OF FOREIGNERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iraqi court has sentenced a man to death for murder and for kidnapping
FEBRUARY 6, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Sri Lanka, a woman was sentenced to death after she was found guilty of possessing
- FEBRUARY 6, 2012CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Raymond Oscar Butler, 36, hispanic, to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Raymond Oscar Butler, 36, hispanic, to death
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. A jury sentenced Vernell Loggins Jr., 39, black, to death
USA - Missouri. A jury sentenced Vernell Loggins Jr., 39, black, to death
FEBRUARY 1, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: TWO DEATH SENTENCES
In Zimbabwe, High Court Judge Lawrence Kamocha has sentenced to death twice
- JANUARY 30, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: TWO AFGHAN MEN TO BE EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Two men will be executed in UAE for premeditatedly stabbing a sex worker
- JANUARY 30, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a judge in Nigeria has sentenced a former dictator's right-hand man to death
a judge in Nigeria has sentenced a former dictator's right-hand man to death
- JANUARY 30, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the former Party secretary of Nanchang County in eastern Jiangxi...
the former Party secretary of Nanchang County in eastern Jiangxi Province was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes and causing huge losses to the state, local media reported
JANUARY 30, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR BLASPHEMY
A ‘blasphemy’ accused was sentenced to death and also to 10 years’ imprisonment in Pakistan.
JANUARY 30, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TRISHAW DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING HEROIN
In Sri Lanka, Colombo High Court sentenced a trishaw driver to death for
- JANUARY 28, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: COURT AWARDS DEATH PENALTY IN DRUG CASE FOR THE FIRST TIME
in the first ever case of capital punishment in a drug crime, a special Narcotics
- JANUARY 27, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi newspaper Al-Eqtisadiah reported Saudi Arabia...
Saudi newspaper Al-Eqtisadiah reported Saudi Arabia...
JANUARY 27, 2012EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: DEATH PENALTY FOR BLOGGER, PRISON FOR JOURNALISTS
A U.S.-based journalist convicted on politicized terrorism charges in Ethiopia was
- JANUARY 27, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Judge Jon Blue sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, white, to death
USA - Connecticut. Judge Jon Blue sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, white, to death
- JANUARY 26, 2012FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for John Kalisz, 57, white
USA - Florida. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for John Kalisz, 57, white
- JANUARY 26, 2012AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Jerry Jerome Smith, 39, black
USA - Alabama. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Jerry Jerome Smith, 39, black
JANUARY 25, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO BROTHERS RECEIVE DEATH SENTENCE
Two brothers who were indicted for murder were sentenced to death in Sri lanka
JANUARY 24, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDERING FIVE
Describing the act of a 40-year-old man, who murdered five persons under the influence
JANUARY 24, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS EXECUTIONS AS 'SHOCKING'
The United Nations human rights chief said today she was shocked at reports that 34 people were executed in Iraq in a single day last week and called on the country to institute an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
JANUARY 24, 2012DEATH PENALTYUSA: DEATH PENALTY FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS
Professor Victor Streib of the Ohio Northern University Law School has published the
- JANUARY 24, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Professor Victor Streib has published the latest edition of his periodic reports, Death Penalty for Female Offenders.
USA - Professor Victor Streib has published the latest edition of his periodic reports, Death Penalty for Female Offenders.
- JANUARY 23, 2012DEATH PENALTY
US SUPREME COURT DECISION MEANS D'AMBROSIO STAYS FREE
the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the state of Ohio challenging the
JANUARY 23, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: POLICE EXECUTE KILLER IN MOGADISHU
A soldier was executed in Mogadishu after he was found guilty of killing a fellow soldier
- JANUARY 23, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Joe D'Ambrosio, 49, white, becomes the Nation's 140th Death Row Exonerated
USA - Ohio. Joe D'Ambrosio, 49, white, becomes the Nation's 140th Death Row Exonerated
- JANUARY 20, 2012South SudanDEATH PENALTY
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
JANUARY 20, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Nigeria, sentenced a young man,
- JANUARY 20, 2012KentuckyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kentucky. A Hardin County jury has issued a unanimous verdict of death for Michael St. Clair, 54, white
USA - Kentucky. A Hardin County jury has issued a unanimous verdict of death for Michael St. Clair, 54, white