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
- MARCH 19, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING WIFE
in China, the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Qiu Jianhua to
MARCH 19, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH PENALTY GIVEN TO FRAUD-RING MEMBER
the Tokyo High Court in Japan gave the death penalty to a billing-fraud group member
MARCH 18, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: TWO GET DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER
the Nagoya District Court in Japan sentenced two men to death and another to life
- MARCH 18, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A Riverside County jury returned a verdict of death for Raymond Lee Oyler
USA - California. A Riverside County jury returned a verdict of death for Raymond Lee Oyler
- MARCH 16, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: BALI 9 APPEALS MAY BE CURTAILED
Indonesia's Supreme Court prepared a new edict giving prosecutors the right to speed the execution of death row inmates.
- MARCH 13, 2009OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Hersie R. Wesson 51, black, was sentenced to death
USA - Ohio. Hersie R. Wesson 51, black, was sentenced to death
- MARCH 12, 2009SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: MAN TO HANG FOR MURDERING 15-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER
Ong Pang Siew, 46, was found guilty of murdering 15-year-old Ong Pan Hui on 20 October 2007 in Marsiling and was sentenced to death in Singapore.
- MARCH 12, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
IN IRAQ, 128 FACE EXECUTION IN BATCHES OF 20, REPORTS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International called for the immediate intervention of Iraq's Justice Minister to stop the execution of 128 prisoners on death row, amid reports that the authorities are planning to start executing in batches of up to 20 starting next week.
- MARCH 12, 2009UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. A proposal to amend the state constitution and speed up post-conviction appeals in death penalty cases has failed in the Utah House
USA - Utah. A proposal to amend the state constitution and speed up post-conviction appeals in death penalty cases has failed in the Utah House
- MARCH 12, 2009AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: THREE AWARDED DEATH PENALTY IN MURDER CASES
a primary court in western Herat province, Afghanistan, sentenced three to death
- MARCH 11, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: IT'S THE GALLOWS FOR PRISON WARDER
prison warder Mohd Nor Riza Mat Tahar was sentenced to death by the apex court in Malaysia, after serving a 10-year jail sentence for manslaughter.
- MARCH 11, 2009PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. A Lancaster County jury says Abraham Sanchez Jr., 20, latino, will face the death penalty
USA - Pennsylvania. A Lancaster County jury says Abraham Sanchez Jr., 20, latino, will face the death penalty
- MARCH 10, 2009Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
the Military Court in Gaza sentenced 3 Palestinians from al-Shoja'eya neighbourhood...
the Military Court in Gaza sentenced 3 Palestinians from al-Shoja'eya neighbourhood...
- MARCH 9, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AMNESTY CAMPAIGN FOR EIGHT WOMEN AT RISK OF BEING STONED TO DEATH
as many as eight woman are at imminent risk of being stoned to death for adultery in Iran, according to reports received by Amnesty International.
- MARCH 9, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Robert J. Perry sentenced Reyon Ingram to death
USA - California. Judge Robert J. Perry sentenced Reyon Ingram to death
- MARCH 5, 2009DEATH PENALTY
DRC: MILITIA LEADER GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR WAR CRIMES
a former Congolese militia leader was sentenced to death by a military court in southeastern Democratic
- MARCH 5, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
COURT IN CHINA'S HUBEI UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR MAN WHO KILLED 8
a man who was convicted of killing eight people including a 2-year-old boy was sentenced to death in a second trial in central China's Hubei Province.
- MARCH 5, 2009Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
GOVT TO APPEAL ON BEHALF OF LANKANS ON DEATH ROW
the Sri Lankan government will appeal on behalf of two Sri Lankan nationals against whom death sentences were issued by a court in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- MARCH 5, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
DR CONGO: MILITIA LEADER GUILTY IN LANDMARK TRIAL
Mai Mai commander Gédéon Kyungu Mutanga and 6 other combatants were sentenced to death by a military court in the garrison of Haut-Katanga, in Katanga province.
- MARCH 4, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
- MARCH 2, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING WIFE, DAUGHTER
a local court in Allahbad, India, awarded the death penalty to a man found guilty for murdering his wife and five-year-old daughter.
MARCH 2, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 'CHEMICAL ALI' CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR THIRD TIME
An Iraqi court condemned Saddam Hussein's notorious henchman, "Chemical Ali" Hassan
- MARCH 1, 2009QatarDEATH PENALTY
QATAR: COURT HANDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR ‘MANHOLE MURDER’
a man was sentenced to death by firing squad for the “premeditated murder” of a Pakistani compatriot in Doha, Qatar, on January 15, 2007.
MARCH 1, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KURDISH ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO DEATH
an appeals court in Iran found Kurdish student, Habibolah Latifi, guilty of waging war against God
- FEBRUARY 28, 2009AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHAN VILLAGER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 'WRONG INFORMATION'
a villager was sentenced to death by an Afghan court for giving "wrong information" that resulted in nearly 100 civilians being killed in Nato airstrikes.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC IMPOSES DEATH SENTENCE ON DUO FOR MURDER OF SIX
the Indian Supreme Court sentenced two people to death for murdering six members of a family in 1994 in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
FEBRUARY 28, 2009AlgeriaDEATH PENALTYALGERIA: DEATH PENALTY FOR DROUKDAL AND 11 OF HIS MEMBERS
the criminal court of Djelfa, Algeria, handed the death penalty to the emir of “El Qaida
- FEBRUARY 27, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING 2 IN OSAKA
a 59 year old man was sentenced to death at the Osaka District Court in Japan for robbing and killing a female Chinese student and a male company employee with a knife on separate occasions in Osaka.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a former customer service technician was sent to the gallows by the Malaysian High Court for trafficking in drugs.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. An Orange County jury recommended that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 43, black, be executed
USA - California. An Orange County jury recommended that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 43, black, be executed