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
JUNE 18, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Anti-Terrorist Court Judge Raja Muhammad Arshad
JUNE 18, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
in Sargodha, Pakistan, Anti-Terrorist Court Special Judge Mian Anwar Nazir sentenced
- JUNE 17, 2010United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL POSTPONED FOR INDIANS
the hearing on an appeal in the United Arab Emirates against a death sentence given to 17 Indians who were found guilty of killing a Pakistani man and injuring another four was adjourned by the Sharjah Court of Appeal to July 14, Gulf News has learnt.
- JUNE 16, 2010EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPTIAN FACES DEATH PENALTY FOR RICH DUO'S MURDER
an Egyptian court sentenced Mahmoud Essawy to death for murdering Heba Ibrahim Al-Akad, 23, and Nadine Khaled Gamal during a robbery and stealing a cellphone and 400 Egyptian pounds.
- JUNE 16, 2010TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals threw out the death sentence of Adrian Estrada.
USA - Texas. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals threw out the death sentence of Adrian Estrada.
JUNE 16, 2010EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: OFFICIAL GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR SUPPORTING REBELS
the Ethiopian Federal High Court sentenced former regional official Jemua
- JUNE 15, 2010IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PRESIDENT COMMUTES DEATH FOR 8 TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
in India, eight convicts on death row in two separate cases of murder received
- JUNE 14, 2010United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: COURT COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF 65-YEAR-OLD WOMAN’S RAPIST
in the United Arab Emirates, the Fujairah Court of Appeal commuted the death
- JUNE 14, 2010ChinaDEATH PENALTY
TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING CHINESE TRANSPORT OFFICIAL
in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Bai Yuku and Xu Guangdong were sentenced to death for murdering transport official Li Xingguang on August 17, 2009, local court officials announced.
- JUNE 14, 2010AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge overrides jury, and imposes death sentence on Jeffrey Riggs
USA - Alabama. Judge overrides jury, and imposes death sentence on Jeffrey Riggs
- JUNE 13, 2010United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MAN GETS DEATH FOR MURDERING WIFE
in the United Arab Emirates, presiding Judge of the Fujairah Criminal Court of First Instance Saeed Abdullah Masoud sentenced an UAE national to death for murdering his wife in 2009 in the Roll Dedna area.
- JUNE 11, 2010FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Mallory D. Cooper sentenced Randall Deviney to death
USA - Florida. Judge Mallory D. Cooper sentenced Randall Deviney to death
- JUNE 11, 2010NevadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced John Matthus Watson III to death
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced John Matthus Watson III to death
- JUNE 11, 2010OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death sentence for Ashford Lamar Thompson
USA - Ohio. A jury has recommended the death sentence for Ashford Lamar Thompson
- JUNE 11, 2010CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Christian Thierbach sentenced Glen Joseph Jones to death
USA - California. Judge Christian Thierbach sentenced Glen Joseph Jones to death
- JUNE 9, 2010IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH ROW CONVICTS WITHDRAW PLEA
10 people sentenced to death for their involvement in church blasts in several places in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India, withdrew their habeas corpus petition in which they had said death is better than solitary confinement.
- JUNE 8, 2010CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended that James Heard be put to death
USA - California. A jury recommended that James Heard be put to death
- JUNE 7, 2010United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: DUBAI COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MOSQUE MURDERER
the death sentence against 30-year-old Emirati, Rashid Al Rashidi, was finalised
- JUNE 7, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE IN RAPE AND MURDER CASE
in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, an Additional District and Sessions judge sentenced Naseer Ahmed to death and fined him Rs300,000 for raping and murdering three-year-old boy Aroon Khalid on November 10, 2009.
- JUNE 7, 2010North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. A jury sentenced Andrew Ramseur to death
USA - North Carolina. A jury sentenced Andrew Ramseur to death
- JUNE 4, 2010IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: KASAB FILES APPEAL AGAINST DEATH SENTENCE
Pakistani Ajmal Kasab challenged his death sentence for killing 166 people in a terrorist attack on Mumbai in the Bombay High Court.
- JUNE 4, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ELDERLY MAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
elderly man Low Ah Leck, 62, was sentenced to death by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Asmabi Mohamad of the Malaysian High Court for trafficking 353.2 gr. of Methamphetamine in front of a fast food restaurant in Ampang, Selangor, on May 23, 2008.
- JUNE 4, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WIFE
in Pattoki, Pakistan, Additional district and sessions judge Manzoor Hussain Dogar sentenced Shehzad to death and fined him Rs 100,000 for killing his wife on November 28, 2008.
- JUNE 2, 2010CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. The Senate passed a bill to release California's sickest inmates to shave millions of dollars from the prison budget. The bill excludes those facing the death penalty
USA - California. The Senate passed a bill to release California's sickest inmates to shave millions of dollars from the prison budget. The bill excludes those facing the death penalty
- JUNE 2, 2010NevadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced James Biela to death
USA - Nevada. A jury sentenced James Biela to death
- JUNE 1, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER
in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Additional Sessions Judge Anjum Raza Syed sentenced Sabir...
- JUNE 1, 2010CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Alberto Martinez to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Alberto Martinez to death
JUNE 1, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
shop assistant Ahmad Saad Hazmin, 25, from Pasir Mas, was sentenced to death
- MAY 30, 2010PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF SON IN LAW
in Pakpattan, Pakistan, an Additional Session Judge sentenced Sadiq, a Tandu Allah Yar resident, to death and fined him rupees 2-Lac for stabbing his son in law Kashif to death at mohallah Muzaffarabad-Arifwala over the petty matter of serving him tea lat
MAY 28, 2010VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DRUG SMUGGLERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
five Chinese men were sentenced to death by the People's Court of northern Quang