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 3, 2011Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
the Gaza District Court sentenced H.F.W, 34 years old, from Gaza city
the Gaza District Court sentenced H.F.W, 34 years old, from Gaza city
- FEBRUARY 2, 2011Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAID SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING EMPLOYER
a Saudi Arabian court sentenced an unnamed Asian housemaid to death for murdering her 80 year old employer with a hammer. She then packed all jewellery and other expensive items and fled the house in the central town of Taif.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2011UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. House Bill 202 (lesser appeals) was passed by the House
USA - Utah. House Bill 202 (lesser appeals) was passed by the House
FEBRUARY 1, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysian High Court Justice Abdul Rahim Uda sentenced iranian taxi driver Alihosseinzadeh
- JANUARY 31, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ILLEGAL DEMOLITION IN NORTH CHINA
Gao Haidong was sentenced to death by the Taiyuan City Intermediate People's Court in north China's Shanxi Province for murdering villager Meng during an illegal demolition on October 30, 2010.
- JANUARY 30, 2011DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PERSON EXECUTED, PAIR CONDEMNED TO DEATH
one person was hanged in Tehran for drug trafficking, Iran’s prosecutor general
- JANUARY 29, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR MURDER
in Malaysia, Yii Ming Tung was sentenced to death by Justice Yew Jen Kie for killing fireman Alexander Ganok by stabbing him on May 8, 2009. He died on May 13.
- JANUARY 27, 2011KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT: MAN WHO STABBED HIS FILIPINA WIFE 31 TIMES GETS DEATH SENTENCE
Egyptian national Attalla Mohammad was sentenced to death in Kuwait for killing his Filipina wife Norhaisa Nasa Andao by stabbing her 31 times in a beauty saloon after their relationship soured.
- JANUARY 27, 2011UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. Bill SB202 that shortens death penalty appeals was unanimously passed from the House Judiciary Standing Committee
USA - Utah. Bill SB202 that shortens death penalty appeals was unanimously passed from the House Judiciary Standing Committee
- JANUARY 24, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: EMIRATI TEENAGER SENTENCED TO DIE FOR KILLING
The court of cassation has upheld the death sentence for an Emirati man who, as a 19-year
JANUARY 24, 2011Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 144 PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW SIT FOR EXAMS
thousands of prison inmates in Saudi Arabia sat for mid year examinations this week, including
- JANUARY 22, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN, DEATH SENTENCE
in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, an additional district and sessions judge sentenced Kosar Ali to death for killing his relative Nauman Sattar over a family feud in the area of Airport police in January 2010. He was also fined Rs100, 000.
- JANUARY 21, 2011PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Hector Morales, 28, hispanic, to death
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced Hector Morales, 28, hispanic, to death
- JANUARY 20, 2011South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
- JANUARY 19, 2011AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ABU DHABI
an Abu Dhabi appeal court sentenced an Afghan national to death for smuggling
- JANUARY 18, 2011PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN’S DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD
Judge Mahmud, Yunus and Hj Ma’ah of the Court of Appeal in Kota
- JANUARY 18, 2011ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Benedetto Cipriani, extradited from Italy, was beaten by his cellmate and is in critical condition
USA - Connecticut. Benedetto Cipriani, extradited from Italy, was beaten by his cellmate and is in critical condition
- JANUARY 18, 2011ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER
a provincial court in Thailand sentenced Wijai Narkwan to death for killing policemen Thanee Buaphan...
- JANUARY 17, 2011YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN CONVICTS AL-QAIDA AGENT IN FRENCHMAN'S DEATH
a Yemeni security court sentenced suspected al-Qaida agent Hisham Assem to death for the killing of a French oil worker on October 6, 2010, on an oil firm compound.
- JANUARY 16, 2011EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPTIAN HANDED DEATH SENTENCE FOR COPT KILLINGS
A Muslim man was condemned to death in south Egypt for the January 2010 slaying
- JANUARY 10, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DEATH SENTENCE
Yu Haixu, 24, was given a two-year suspended death sentence recently by an intermediate people's court in Hohhot, China, for killing a male student Yao on May 10 at a cafe.
- JANUARY 10, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BRUTALLY KILLING FATHER
in Delhi, India, Additional sessions judge Mr RK Gauba sentenced Jitender resident Nabi Karim, 25, to death and fined him Rs 5,000 for killing his father on March 13, 2008, as a sacrifice to a deity in 2008 to ward off troubles with his wife.
- JANUARY 6, 2011AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIAN ESCAPES EXECUTION IN AFGHANISTAN
a former Australian soldier convicted of murder in Afghanistan had his January 2009 death sentence commuted to a 20-year jail term.
- JANUARY 2, 2011YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE TO SOMALI DRUG DEALER
the Primary Specialized Penal Court in Yemen's Hadramout province
- JANUARY 1, 2011AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
- JANUARY 1, 2011Burkina FasoDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: treason or espionage in wartime (Art. 89);
Capital crimes are: treason or espionage in wartime (Art. 89);
- JANUARY 1, 2011MaliDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
- JANUARY 1, 2011Guinea-BissauDEATH PENALTY
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
- JANUARY 1, 2011AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2011GuatemalaDEATH PENALTY
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide...
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide, aggravated homicide and assassination of the President or Vice-President.