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 11, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NORTHEAST CHINA
two men were sentenced to death in northeast China's Liaoning Province by the Dandong Municipal Intermediate People's Court.
DECEMBER 10, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN MEN FACE EXECUTION FOR SODOMY
ten young Iranian men, including eight teenagers, are currently awaiting execution for sodomy, Hossein
- DECEMBER 10, 2009DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. A jury sentenced Clifford Wright to death
USA - Delaware. A jury sentenced Clifford Wright to death
- DECEMBER 10, 2009FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge L. Paige Haddock sentenced Robert Earl Peterson to death
USA - Florida. Judge L. Paige Haddock sentenced Robert Earl Peterson to death
- DECEMBER 9, 2009FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge T. Michael Johnson upheld the death sentence of Donte Hall
USA - Florida. Judge T. Michael Johnson upheld the death sentence of Donte Hall
- DECEMBER 8, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: ROGUE TRADER EXECUTED
China executed a former securities trader for embezzlement.
- DECEMBER 8, 2009UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA: POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH
a local Defence Unit (LDU) officer in Kabale, Uganda, was sentenced to death for murdering a resident of Rutenga cell in Kabale Town.
- DECEMBER 8, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A Leon County jury sentenced Jerry Duane Martin to death
USA - Texas. A Leon County jury sentenced Jerry Duane Martin to death
- DECEMBER 7, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: MAN TO DIE FOR MURDER
Additional District and Sessions Judge Mahbubul Alam sentenced Abu Taher...
- DECEMBER 7, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOUTHWEST CHINA GANG TRIAL
five people were sentenced to death after being convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering, fraud and selling counterfeit currency in southwest China.
- DECEMBER 7, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended that 41-year-old Timothy Titus Rodriguez be put to death
USA - California. A jury recommended that 41-year-old Timothy Titus Rodriguez be put to death
- DECEMBER 7, 2009ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Brad Nelson to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Brad Nelson to death
- DECEMBER 5, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN AWARDED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER
in India, a man identified as Sanjay was sentenced to death.
- DECEMBER 4, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: THREE MORE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ETHNIC RIOTS
China sentenced three more people to death for murder and other crimes committed in riots in the western
- DECEMBER 4, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Derlyn Ray Threats
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Derlyn Ray Threats
- DECEMBER 3, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER GANG CRIME IN SOUTH CHINA
two mob bosses were sentenced to death in Yangjiang, southern China. Xu Jianqiang was also fined 310 million yuan ($45.4 million) for abetting three murders.
- DECEMBER 3, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA ANNOUNCES MORE DEATH SENTENCES FOR XINJIANG RIOT
A court in China's Xinjiang region sentenced five people to death for murder and other crimes over deadly
- DECEMBER 3, 2009ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Isiah Patterson to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Isiah Patterson to death
- DECEMBER 2, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: GHAZIABAD: SIX GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING FOUR
in India, the Ghaziabad district court sentenced six men to death for killing four women of a family on November 24, 2005, over a land-related dispute.
- DECEMBER 1, 2009FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE: TEHRAN- STOP GAY EXECUTIONS
France launched a strong appeal to Iran to immediately stop the imminent execution of Iranians sentenced to
DECEMBER 1, 2009SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SOLDIER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
a Somali soldier under Afrah Ali Afrah, commander of the Darawish troops in Mogadishu, was sentenced
- NOVEMBER 28, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING WIFE, KIDS
in Jalandhar, India, District and Sessions Judge R P Nagrath sentenced Charanjit Singh to death
NOVEMBER 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR POLITICAL PRISONER
Ayoub Porkar, 46, was sentenced to death for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. His
NOVEMBER 26, 2009NepalDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO NEPALESE SENTENCED TO DEATH
two Nepalese found guilty of drug trafficking were sentenced to death by Judicial Commissioner Azman
- NOVEMBER 25, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: SEVEN GET DEATH SENTENCE
seven people were awarded the death sentence by Additional District and Session Judge AKM Abul Kasnem for murderg a college student from Chandanpur village in Monohardi upazila, Bangladesh
- NOVEMBER 24, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
GUNMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER, ROBBERY IN SOUTHWEST CHINA
a man was sentenced to death in southwest China's Sichuan Province for murder and committing armed robberies with a gang.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2009PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced John Lewis to death
USA - Pennsylvania. A jury sentenced John Lewis to death
NOVEMBER 23, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: KILLER OF FATHER, HUSBAND SENTENCED TO DEATH
the criminal court in Karbala, Iraq, sentenced a woman to death for killing her father and husband with the
- NOVEMBER 23, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Frank Fasel sentenced Billy Joe Johnson to death
USA - California. Judge Frank Fasel sentenced Billy Joe Johnson to death
- NOVEMBER 23, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Christopher Evans
USA - California. A jury recommended the death penalty for Christopher Evans