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 7, 2009EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: 7 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FEUD KILLINGS
An Egyptian court sentenced seven people from two feuding families to death for their
- JUNE 5, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR EUNUCH MURDER
a contract killer who shot a eunuch inside the Tis Hazari Court premises, six years ago, was awarded the death sentence by a sessions court in India.
- JUNE 5, 2009UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA: 7 GET DEATH FOR MBARARA MURDER
the Ugandan High Court in Mbarara district sentenced seven people to death for murder and robbery
- JUNE 4, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DEATH FOR DRUG DEALING
a man was sentenced to death with a two year reprieve by the Shanghai Railway Transport Intermediate People's Court in China. During the trial, prosecutors and defence lawyers discussed their opinions on sentencing with the judge, the first time the railw
- JUNE 4, 2009VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Daryl Atkins, the death row inmate whose case led to the national ban on executing the mentally retarded, will spend life in prison
USA - Virginia. Daryl Atkins, the death row inmate whose case led to the national ban on executing the mentally retarded, will spend life in prison
- JUNE 3, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH TO 8 SINCE JAN
as many as eight people were awarded capital punishment by different courts in Bihar...
- JUNE 3, 2009Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR CHILD RAPE
in Saudi Arabia, a General Court’s three-judge panel sentenced a 22-year-old man to
JUNE 3, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTYCANADA: MURDER SUSPECT EXTRADITED WITH GUARANTEE NO DEATH PENALTY
an Californian man who fled to Canada in late 2007 was been sent back to the US to
- JUNE 3, 2009FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. By a vote of 10-2, a jury today recommended the death penalty for William Kopsho
USA - Florida. By a vote of 10-2, a jury today recommended the death penalty for William Kopsho
JUNE 1, 2009KenyaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: KENYANS RECEIVE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
authorities in China sentenced five Kenyan nationals to death after they were convicted
- MAY 28, 2009KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: PROHIBIT DEATH SENTENCE, CONVICT APPEALS IN COURT
Godfrey Ngotho Mutiso argued that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional in the Kenyan Court of Appeal.
- MAY 28, 2009LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. A Caddo Parish jury sentenced Felton Dorsey to death
USA - Louisiana. A Caddo Parish jury sentenced Felton Dorsey to death
- MAY 28, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Jury sends Robert Fratta back to death row
USA - Texas. Jury sends Robert Fratta back to death row
- MAY 27, 2009ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Donald Delehanty to death
USA - Arizona. A jury sentenced Donald Delehanty to death
- MAY 27, 2009LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana (Federal). A federal jury unanimously sentenced John Wayne Johnson to death today
USA - Louisiana (Federal). A federal jury unanimously sentenced John Wayne Johnson to death today
- MAY 26, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: BRITON TO APPEAL DEATH SENTENCE
a British citizen sentenced to death for drugs trafficking in China is to plead his case at an appeal court.
- MAY 26, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: FOUR GET DEATH FOR NANDOS KILLINGS
in India, Sindhudurg District Principal and Sessions judge JN Shanbaug sentenced four Mumbai youths to death for their involvement in the infamous 2003 Nandos killings.
MAY 26, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: CRIMINAL COURT SENTENCES 8 SHIITE MILITIA LEADERS TO DEATH
An Iraqi court in the southern city of Diwaniyah sentenced eight Shiite militia leaders to
- MAY 25, 2009SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: MAN TO HANG FOR THROWING WIFE FROM 13TH FLOOR
an odd job worker in Singapore was sentenced to hang after being found guilty of hurling his wife from the 13th floor of an HDB block.
MAY 23, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DEATH ROW TIBETANS’ WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
the mandatory six-week period for referring their cases to the Chinese Supreme Court
- MAY 22, 2009DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Michael Ledford
USA - Georgia. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Michael Ledford
MAY 22, 2009NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MINISTER SEEKS TO RELEASE PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW TO DECONGEST PRISONS
as part of measures to decongest the nation's prisons, the Nigerian government was
- MAY 22, 2009MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Circuit Judge David Evans of West Plains sentenced Lance Shockley to death
USA - Missouri. Circuit Judge David Evans of West Plains sentenced Lance Shockley to death
- MAY 21, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Veto threat alters death-penalty bill.
USA - Texas. Veto threat alters death-penalty bill.
- MAY 20, 2009KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT: PINOY ON DEATH ROW IN KUWAIT PARDONNED BY VICTIM'S FAMILY
an overseas Filipino worker sentenced to death by a Kuwaiti court for killing a compatriot may be spared, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
MAY 20, 2009SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: MORE DARFUR REBELS SENT TO DEATH
a Sudanese court sentenced another nine Darfur rebels to death for a 2008 attack on
- MAY 18, 2009PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A Bucks County jury today sentenced David Ramtahal, 25, to death
USA - Pennsylvania. A Bucks County jury today sentenced David Ramtahal, 25, to death
- MAY 18, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 3 GET DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND
a fast-track court in Bhagalpur, India, awarded capital punishment to Gulab, Asmat and Pipiya for murdering their friend, Mohd Illias, out of jealousy as he planned to marry a girl they fancied.
- MAY 18, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Armando Leza to death
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced Armando Leza to death
MAY 18, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: TWO MAHDI ARMY FIGHTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
an Iraqi provincial court sentenced two members of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's