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
- OCTOBER 11, 2009Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Anton Bruce, 23, was sentenced to death for murdering his infant step daughter in Trinidad & Tobago.
OCTOBER 10, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Three people arrested after Iran's disputed presidential election have been condemned to death, ISNA
- OCTOBER 9, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: MAN ON DEATH ROW COMPLAINS TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Vasil Yuzepchuk, sentenced to death for murdering six old women, complained to the UN Human Rights Committee.
- OCTOBER 9, 2009FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury voted for the execution of Andrew Michael Gosciminski
USA - Florida. A jury voted for the execution of Andrew Michael Gosciminski
- OCTOBER 8, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THAI TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING IN CANNABIS
the Malaysian High Court sentenced a Thai man to the mandatory death sentence by hanging. Judge Datuk Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee found carpenter Mahamad Che Soh, 44, guilty of trafficking 17kg of cannabis on January 4, 2005, in Tanah Merah.
- OCTOBER 8, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A Travis County jury has sentenced Paul Devoe to death
USA - Texas. A Travis County jury has sentenced Paul Devoe to death
- OCTOBER 8, 2009MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. A jury imposed the death penalty on Jason Lee Keller
USA - Mississippi. A jury imposed the death penalty on Jason Lee Keller
- OCTOBER 7, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN AWARDED DEATH SENTENCE IN TWO CASES
a man was awarded the death sentence by Fast track court Judge K R Jinan in Thodupuzha, India, for hacking to death his mother and maternal grandfather and two others.
- OCTOBER 7, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH CONVICT CLAIMS TO BE A JUVENILE
V. Selvam, sentenced to death in India for the rape and murder of a 10 year old girl at Jaihindpuram on October 22, 2006, claimed that he was a minor at the time of the crime.
- OCTOBER 6, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DUO GETS DEATH FOR MURDERING SINGAPOREAN ACTRESS
two friends were sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for murdering Singaporean actress Una Angelia Oliveiro, 44.
OCTOBER 6, 2009YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST PAKISTANI UPHELD
the Sana'a Appeal Court in Yemen upheld a death sentence against a Pakistani and jailed five others for 25
OCTOBER 6, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN AHWAZI ARABS FACING EXECUTION
Seven Ahwazi Arab opposition activists have been sentenced to death in secret trials in Iran's Revolutionary
- OCTOBER 5, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
in Bangladesh, the trial for the 1975 assassination of the country’s...
in Bangladesh, the trial for the 1975 assassination of the country’s...
- OCTOBER 5, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
LAWYERS ACT TO SAVE NIGERIAN ON DEATH ROW IN INDONESIA
Nigerian Titus Ani was convicted of smuggling heroin in Indonesia, without what members of Amnesty International described as “experienced lawyers carefully preparing and presenting his case”.
- OCTOBER 5, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER
in Bahawalnagar, Pakistan, Additional District and Sessions judge Ch. Nazir Ahmed awarded the death sentence and a Rs 200,000 fine to Khizar Hayat.
- OCTOBER 5, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PROTESTER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
a man identified as Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani learnt from the Iranian authorities that he had been
- OCTOBER 5, 2009MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. Alan Michael Rubenstein has been resentenced to life in prison
USA - Mississippi. Alan Michael Rubenstein has been resentenced to life in prison
OCTOBER 3, 2009YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: TWO PAKISTANIS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
a Yemeni court sentenced two Pakistani fishermen to death and jailed two others for 25 years after
- OCTOBER 2, 2009OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Yancy L. Douglas and Paris L. Powell were released from Oklahoma County Jail today
USA - Oklahoma. Yancy L. Douglas and Paris L. Powell were released from Oklahoma County Jail today
- OCTOBER 2, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER
the Belarus Supreme Court rejected the final appeal against the death sentence given to Vasil Yuzepchuk,
- OCTOBER 1, 2009AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge John England sentenced James Scott Largin to die
USA - Alabama. Judge John England sentenced James Scott Largin to die
OCTOBER 1, 2009NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ONDO GOVERNOR PARDONS FOUR DEATH ROW INMATES
the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, commuted the death sentences on four people to jail terms to
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER
in Arifwala, Pakistan, Additional District and Sessions Judge Mian khadim Hussain awarded the death sentence to Imran, alias Mani, as well as fining him Rs 100,000.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: ONE SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Indonesian Nasir Ibrahim, 31, was given the mandatory death sentence by the Malaysian High Court after
SEPTEMBER 29, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MAN WHO KILLED MAYOR HAS DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED
Tetsuya Shiroo’s death sentence for murdering Nagasaki Mayor Iccho Ito was commuted to life
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2009SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: BOSASO COURT SENTENCES DEFENDANT TO DEATH
The district court of Bosaso, in Puntland State of Somalia, sentenced one of five young defendants to
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2009ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. Judge Richard Nichols formally sentenced Scott Nordstrom to die
USA - Arizona. Judge Richard Nichols formally sentenced Scott Nordstrom to die
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: ISLAMISTS SENTENCE FRENCH NATIONAL TO DEATH
the Al-Shabab Islamic Movement in Somalia sentenced a French national adviser who is being held in
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
judicial commissioner Azman Abdullah of the Malaysian High Court dismissed an appeal by Azhar Abdul
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL TO BE HEARD BY SUPREME COURT
an appeal against one of the two death sentences imposed this year in Belarus will be heard by the Supreme