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 26, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: TWO FOREIGNERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG DEALING
the Criminal Court of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, sentenced two Asians to
- MAY 25, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
MERCY PETITION FOR INDIA'S 'HOUSE OF HORROR' KILLINGS
Surender Koli lodged a petition for mercy over his death sentence for the Nithari serial killings in India.
- MAY 24, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THAI WOMAN ESCAPES THE GALLOWS
fruit seller, Roseedah Che Ubong, 41, a Thai national...
- MAY 23, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: GODHRA CONVICTS CHALLENGE COURT ORDER
the 11 convicts sentenced to death in the Godhra carnage case approached the Gujarat high court in India challenging the special court's order.
- MAY 23, 2011TennesseeDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. Judge Roy Morgan Jr. sentenced John T. Freeland Jr., 28, black, to death
USA - Tennessee. Judge Roy Morgan Jr. sentenced John T. Freeland Jr., 28, black, to death
MAY 23, 2011EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: CRIMINAL COURT HANDS DOWN FIRST DEATH SENTENCE IN REVOLUTION KILLINGS
A criminal court in Cairo sentenced to death a police officer for killing protesters, the first such penalty
- MAY 20, 2011TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Areli Escobar, 32, Latino, to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Areli Escobar, 32, Latino, to death
- MAY 20, 2011DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. Judge. T. Henley Graves imposed the death sentence on Derrick Powell, 24, black
USA - Delaware. Judge. T. Henley Graves imposed the death sentence on Derrick Powell, 24, black
- MAY 20, 2011MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced Caleb Corrothers, 29, black, to death
USA - Mississippi. A jury sentenced Caleb Corrothers, 29, black, to death
- MAY 19, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge George Maxwel sentenced Margaret Allen, 45, black, to death
USA - Florida. Judge George Maxwel sentenced Margaret Allen, 45, black, to death
- MAY 19, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Armando Macias, 35, latino
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Armando Macias, 35, latino
MAY 19, 2011Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH ROW PRISONERS COMMENCE A FAST UNTO DEATH
death row prisoners started a fast unto death campaign at the Welikada prison in Colombo
- MAY 18, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE OF MAN WHO SET FIRE TO WIFE AND KIN UPHELD
judges Yusoff, Sharif and Embong of the Shah Alam Federal Court in Malaysia sentenced unemployed man M. Balamurali, 35...
- MAY 17, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA EXECUTES CONVICTED KILLER AFTER RAISING SENTENCE
China executed a convicted murderer after raising his suspended death sentence
- MAY 17, 2011PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Michael Eric Ballard, 37, white, to 4 death sentences
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Michael Eric Ballard, 37, white, to 4 death sentences
- MAY 16, 2011ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Stephen Douglas Reeves, 57, white, to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Stephen Douglas Reeves, 57, white, to death
- MAY 16, 2011LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. A jury recommended the death sentence for Jeffrey Clark, 50, white
USA - Louisiana. A jury recommended the death sentence for Jeffrey Clark, 50, white
- MAY 12, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommends death for Bart Wayne Johnson, white
USA - Alabama. A jury recommends death for Bart Wayne Johnson, white
- MAY 12, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Ricardo Villa, 35
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Ricardo Villa, 35
- MAY 11, 2011Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR REVENGE KILLING
Jayamaha Mohottige Anura was sentenced to death by Puttalam High Court judge Arafath Thaseem in Sri Lanka for murder.
- MAY 11, 2011Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TRIO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DOUBLE MURDER
in Sri Lanka, Mavin Kulasuriya...
MAY 9, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FORMER MAYOR GETS TOUGH SENTENCE FOR GRAFT
The former mayor of China's Shenzhen city was given a suspended death sentence for
- MAY 9, 2011LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES ISRAELI COLLABORATOR TO DEATH
a man accused of spying for Israel was sentenced to death in absentia in Lebanon by the Military Tribunal.
- MAY 6, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Linda R. Condron sentenced Melvin Earl Forte, 60, black, to death
USA - California. Judge Linda R. Condron sentenced Melvin Earl Forte, 60, black, to death
- MAY 6, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge James Graddick sentenced Derrick Shawn Penn, 44, black, to death
USA - Alabama. Judge James Graddick sentenced Derrick Shawn Penn, 44, black, to death
- MAY 3, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: NITHARI CASE: COURT ANNOUNCES EXECUTION DAY FOR KOLI, MERCY PLEA FILED
a special court ordered Surender Koli, 39, who was sentenced to death in the sensational Nithari serial killings case, be hanged between May 24 and May 31. Koli then filed a mercy petition before the President.
MAY 1, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 13 CRIMES EXEMPTED FROM DEATH PENALTY
Several important changes to China's laws came into effect today, addressing such things
- APRIL 29, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Polk County judge Michael Hunter sentenced Leon Davis, 33, black, to death
USA - Florida. Polk County judge Michael Hunter sentenced Leon Davis, 33, black, to death
- APRIL 28, 2011BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: FOUR PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Bahraini military court sentenced four men to death for killing two police officers during
- APRIL 27, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: BLOOD MONEY SAVES MAN FROM GALLOWS
an man who murdered his wife in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, had his death sentence commuted to five years in prison after the victim’s relatives accepted bloody money and pardoned him.