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
- DECEMBER 14, 2011DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): PERDUE VETOES REPEAL OF RACIAL JUSTICE ACT
Gov. Bev Perdue today vetoed the bill that would gut the Racial Justice Act, the 2-year-old
- DECEMBER 14, 2011North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Governor Perdue vetoes repeal of Racial Justice Act
USA - North Carolina. Governor Perdue vetoes repeal of Racial Justice Act
- DECEMBER 13, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Jurors recommended Michael Hughes, 55, black, get the death penalty for murdering 6 women and a teenage girl.
USA - California. Jurors recommended Michael Hughes, 55, black, get the death penalty for murdering 6 women and a teenage girl.
- DECEMBER 13, 2011RussiaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: RUSSIAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Russian national Marina Lopatina said she will not appeal her death sentence with a two year reprieve.
- DECEMBER 13, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for David Sparre, 20, white
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for David Sparre, 20, white
DECEMBER 13, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: LABOURER SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysian High Court Justice Azman Abdullah sentenced labourer Rosdi Taib, 43, from Rantau Panjang, to
- DECEMBER 12, 2011BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN TANGALLE
five members of a family were sentenced to death by Tangalle High Court judge Chandrasena Rajapaksa in Bangladesh.
- DECEMBER 12, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: THREE GET DEATH SENTENCES
in China, three members of a gang who kidnapped, robbed and murdered Yu Jun in Pudong's Jinqiao area on September 15, 2010, received death sentences.
- DECEMBER 9, 2011ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. A County jury sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, white, to death
USA - Connecticut. A County jury sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, white, to death
- DECEMBER 8, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury has recommended that Thomas Ford McCoy, 44, white, be put to death
USA - Florida. A jury has recommended that Thomas Ford McCoy, 44, white, be put to death
- DECEMBER 7, 2011SudanDEATH PENALTY
Sudanese Security forces opened fire on inmates in El-Fasher prison
Sudanese Security forces opened fire on inmates in El-Fasher prison
- DECEMBER 7, 2011OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Rayshawn Johnson, 33, black
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Rayshawn Johnson, 33, black
- DECEMBER 7, 2011KentuckyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kentucky. ABA study questions death penalty in Kentucky
USA - Kentucky. ABA study questions death penalty in Kentucky
- DECEMBER 6, 2011LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. Judge Jeff Cox formally sentenced Robert McCoy, 37, black, to death
USA - Louisiana. Judge Jeff Cox formally sentenced Robert McCoy, 37, black, to death
- DECEMBER 5, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Adrian G. Soud sentenced Michael Mulugetta Yacob, 26, black, to death
USA - Florida. Judge Adrian G. Soud sentenced Michael Mulugetta Yacob, 26, black, to death
- DECEMBER 3, 2011VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Federal Judge who overturned inmate's death sentence orders his return to death row.
USA - Virginia. Federal Judge who overturned inmate's death sentence orders his return to death row.
- DECEMBER 3, 2011Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ASIAN GANG MEMBERS GET DEATH SENTENCES FOR MURDER
Qayan, Isk and Parshan were sentenced to death by a three-judge panel of the Jeddah General Court for the murder and robbery of a real estate agent in Jeddah in 2007.
- DECEMBER 2, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death sentence for Esau Jackson, 32, black
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death sentence for Esau Jackson, 32, black
- DECEMBER 1, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: DEATH SENTENCE OF 2 INDIANS COMMUTED AFTER BLOOD MONEY DEAL
Two Indians, who were facing death sentence in the UAE, are set to be released this
- NOVEMBER 30, 2011ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Mark Goudeau, 47, black, to death 9 times
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Mark Goudeau, 47, black, to death 9 times
- NOVEMBER 29, 2011VietnamDEATH PENALTY
TWO GET DEATH IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM
a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced Vietnamese woman Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, 40, to death
- NOVEMBER 29, 2011SudanDEATH PENALTY
seven prisoners in North Darfur had their death sentences upheld.
seven prisoners in North Darfur had their death sentences upheld.
- NOVEMBER 28, 2011MaliDEATH PENALTY
MALI: DEATH PENALTY HANDED TO FRENCH EMBASSY ATTACKER
A Malian court has sentenced to death a Tunisian man accused of throwing an
- NOVEMBER 28, 2011SudanDEATH PENALTY
SUDAN CONDEMNS SEVEN DARFUR REBELS TO DEATH
A Sudanese court sentenced seven members of a Darfur rebel group to death by hanging
- NOVEMBER 28, 2011North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. The Senate has voted to repeal the law that allows death row inmates to appeal their sentences claiming racial bias
USA - North Carolina. The Senate has voted to repeal the law that allows death row inmates to appeal their sentences claiming racial bias
- NOVEMBER 28, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Superior Court Judge William Froeberg sentenced Jason Russell Richardson, 41, white, to death
USA - California. Superior Court Judge William Froeberg sentenced Jason Russell Richardson, 41, white, to death
- NOVEMBER 23, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: AJMAL KASAB HANDED DOWN DEATH SENTENCE
Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was handed down the death sentence for his role in the 26
NOVEMBER 23, 2011VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: MAN CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR MURDERS
an appellate court in the southern province of Dong Nai, Vietnam, sentenced a 26-
- NOVEMBER 22, 2011DEATH PENALTY
OREGON (USA): GOVERNOR BANS DEATH PENALTY FOR REST OF TERM
The governor of Oregon announced a halt to executions in the northwestern US state, the latest to drop capital punishment as a penal option.
NOVEMBER 22, 2011VietnamDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: VIETNAMESE WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Presiding Judge Bambang Eka Putra of the Boyolali District Court in Indonesia sentenced