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
- APRIL 27, 2011Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
SIERRA LEONE PARDONS 96 PRISONERS ON INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Sierra Leone feted its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain with a colourful parade and government pardon of 96 prisoners, five of whom were on death row.
- 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.
- APRIL 26, 2011IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO INDIANS GET DEATH SENTENCE IN MALAYSIA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two Indian nationals were sentenced to death in Malaysia. Judge Siti Mariah Ahmad of the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Samad Mohamad Sulthan, 44, guilty of trafficking 3.9 kg of ketamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 25, 2009.
- APRIL 25, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: ONE GETS THREE TIMES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
in Vehari, Pakistan, Additional and Sessions Judge Bashir Ahmad Chaudhry sentenced Javed Abbas to death and fined him Rs 300,000 for killing Aqeel Anwar, Mohammad Anwar and Rasheedan Bibi over a family feud at chak No 15-WB a few years ago.
- APRIL 21, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Ryan T. Moore, 37, black
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Ryan T. Moore, 37, black
APRIL 21, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FOR THREE SADDAM-ERA SPIES
Iraq's High Criminal Court sentenced to death three Saddam Hussein-era spies convicted of assassinating the father of a sitting Iraqi lawmaker in Beirut in April 1994.
APRIL 21, 2011VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
a court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, sentenced Nigerian man Nnaji David Ete, 33, to
- APRIL 21, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge James Hankinson sentenced serial killer Gary Michael Hilton, 64, to death
USA - Florida. Judge James Hankinson sentenced serial killer Gary Michael Hilton, 64, to death
APRIL 19, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING
Malaysian High Court Justice Siti Mariah Ahmad sentenced Mohd Fais Diram, 28, from
- APRIL 19, 2011CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Cimarron Bernard Bell, 37, black, to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Cimarron Bernard Bell, 37, black, to death
- APRIL 17, 2011PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI KING PARDONS FILIPINO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
the king of Saudi Arabia pardoned a Filipino overseas worker sentenced to death for drug smuggling.
- APRIL 15, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SINGAPORE
in Singapore, Justice Chan Seng Onn sentenced Malaysian national Dinesh Pillai Reja Retnam...
APRIL 15, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FARMER CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BROTHER
a Katsina State High Court, sitting in Malumfashi, Nigeria, sentenced farmer Nura Malam
- APRIL 14, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Cecil King, 41, black, to death
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Cecil King, 41, black, to death
- APRIL 14, 2011DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. A jury recommended that Leslie Small, 52, black, be sentenced to death
USA - Delaware. A jury recommended that Leslie Small, 52, black, be sentenced to death
- APRIL 14, 2011FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge William A. Parsons sentenced William Gregory, 28, white, to death
USA - Florida. Judge William A. Parsons sentenced William Gregory, 28, white, to death
APRIL 10, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FATHER AND SON TO HANG FOR MURDER
the High Court in Kedah State, Malaysia, sentenced father and son to death by hanging
APRIL 10, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE PAKISTANIS SENT TO THE GALLOWS
three Pakistani citizens, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 13 years on murder and
- APRIL 8, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: GALLOWS FOR 5 DANDUPALYA MEMBERS
in Bangalore, India, five members of the Dandupalya gang were sentenced to death for various murders and robberies in different parts of the State.
APRIL 7, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED IN ORUMIYEH
3 people were hanged in the central prison of Orumiyeh, Iran.
- APRIL 7, 2011South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. South Dakota has bought a new supply of sodium thiopental.
USA - South Dakota. South Dakota has bought a new supply of sodium thiopental.
- APRIL 6, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: TWO AWARDED DEATH
in Pakistan, Additional District and Sessions judge Haji Ahmad sentenced Amjad to death and fined him Rs. 100,000 for killing Mian Jahangir over a monetary dispute at his Dera under Hadiara Police Station on January 8, 2005.
- APRIL 6, 2011ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Jason Bush, 26, white, to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Jason Bush, 26, white, to death
- APRIL 4, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Mike Jones sentence David Dewayne Riley Jr., 26, white, to death
USA - Alabama. Judge Mike Jones sentence David Dewayne Riley Jr., 26, white, to death
- APRIL 4, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Anthony Lane, 21, black
USA - Alabama. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Anthony Lane, 21, black
- MARCH 31, 2011ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF MP
Anantasak Srisawat, alias Tai...
- MARCH 30, 2011Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE ARMY MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
in Sri Lanka, Colombo High Court judge Jayatilake sentenced three soldiers to death for the
- MARCH 30, 2011AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Aubrey Lynn Shaw, 36, white
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended the death penalty for Aubrey Lynn Shaw, 36, white
- MARCH 29, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN GETS DEATH FOR MURDER
in Jaranwala, Pakistan, a court sentenced Imtiaz Ahmad of Chak to death and fined him Rs 200,000 for killing his father-in-law Abdul Sattar on April 4, 2009, with a club in his bathroom, under Sadar police station.
- MARCH 25, 2011LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. A jury has sentenced Isaiah Doyle, 28, black, to death
USA - Louisiana. A jury has sentenced Isaiah Doyle, 28, black, to death