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
- FEBRUARY 27, 2009UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. The Senate advanced the bill that would to speed up the appeals process in death-penalty cases.
USA - Utah. The Senate advanced the bill that would to speed up the appeals process in death-penalty cases.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2009IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANDS DEATH PENALTY TO 28 CULTISTS FOR ATTACKS
Twenty-eight members of a Shiite messianic cult responsible for brutal attacks on
- FEBRUARY 26, 2009KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
FIVE KYRGYZ CITIZENS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN CHINA
“Five Kyrgyz citizens were sentenced to death in China...
- FEBRUARY 26, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Additional Sessions Judge S. Soman (Fast Track Court-I) sentenced to death a 39-year-old man named Raju, alias Monkuttan, after finding him guilty of the murder of a scooter rider, Sunil Kumar, alias Podiyappan, near All Saints College junction in India o
- FEBRUARY 25, 2009EgyptDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, upheld the death sentence of Egyptian
- FEBRUARY 23, 2009DEATH PENALTY
CHINA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SNACK BAR POISONING
Two migrant workers have been sentenced to death for poisoning food at a snack bar in the
- FEBRUARY 22, 2009Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
the Military Court in Gaza sentenced Naser Salama Abu Freih...
the Military Court in Gaza sentenced Naser Salama Abu Freih...
- FEBRUARY 19, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a hotel worker was sentenced to hang by the Malaysian High Court...
a hotel worker was sentenced to hang by the Malaysian High Court...
- FEBRUARY 18, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN IN TRIPLE MURDER CASE
in India, Principal District and Sessions Court Judge, KC Kella, passed a death sentence in the Adityana triple murder case.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
SCHIZOPHRENIC GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING SIX IN CENTRAL CHINA
a farmer who killed six villagers and injured another was sentenced to death in central China's Hubei province, despite his confirmed mental disorder.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2009KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. A Cowley County jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Justin Thurber
USA - Kansas. A Cowley County jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Justin Thurber
- FEBRUARY 16, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: MAN TO WALK GALLOWS FOR KILLING WIFE IN JHENIDAH
a court in Jhenidah, Bangladesh, convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing his wife for dowry four years ago.
FEBRUARY 16, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TAXI DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a part time taxi driver was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court after he
- FEBRUARY 15, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: ATC AWARDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPING, MURDER
Pakistani Anti Terrorism Court-I (ATC-I) Judge Hasan Shah Bukhari sentenced Shehzad Masih, Nisar Ahmed and Munir Masih to death, life imprisonment and fines
- FEBRUARY 13, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE MAN APPEALS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING EIGHT
a man who was convicted of killing eight people, including a 2 year old boy...
- FEBRUARY 12, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
THERE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR IRAN BOMBING
an Iranian court sentenced three men to death for bombing a mosque in the southern city of Shiraz, killing a number of people. Iranian Judiciary spokesman Ali-Reza Jasmshidi said that three men, among a total of 15 people arrested as part of the case, wer
- FEBRUARY 12, 2009FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Judge Terry Terrell sentenced Willie Hodges to death
USA - Florida. Judge Terry Terrell sentenced Willie Hodges to death
- FEBRUARY 11, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: 3 MORE GET DEATH FOR BARA CARNAGE
Special TADA Court Judge Darogha Prasad awarded the death penalty to three Maoists in connection with the Bara massacre in India.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: FORMER AIRPORT CHIEF GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR BRIBERY, EMBEZZLEMENT
A former capital airports holding company chief was given a death sentence for bribery and embezzlement
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MAN HAS DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
a man convicted of drug-related charges had his death sentence commuted to a 14-year prison sentence and Dh10,000 fine by the Fujairah Appeals Court in the United Arab Emirates.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. Death penalty appeal limitation measure advances
USA - Utah. Death penalty appeal limitation measure advances
- FEBRUARY 9, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING 8
a Chinese court sentenced a junk dealer to death for murdering eight people.
- FEBRUARY 7, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING
an Indonesian national from Aceh was sent to the gallows by the Malaysian High Court for trafficking in drugs.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2009TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury resentenced Michael Dean Gonzales to death
USA - Texas. A jury resentenced Michael Dean Gonzales to death
- FEBRUARY 4, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MURDER CASE IN KUSHTIA
five people were sentenced to death by a court in Kushtia, Bangladesh.
FEBRUARY 2, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: MAN TO GO TO GALLOWS FOR KILLING WIFE IN KUSHTIA
a tribunal in Kushtia, Bangladesh, sentenced a man to death for killing his pregnant wife.
- JANUARY 31, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF GIRL
the District Sessions court sentenced a man to death for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl.
- JANUARY 31, 2009CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry handed down a death sentence for Calvin Dennis
USA - California. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry handed down a death sentence for Calvin Dennis
- JANUARY 30, 2009SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Singapore national Kelvyn John, 29, was sentenced to death by judge Abdu Samah Nordin...
Singapore national Kelvyn John, 29, was sentenced to death by judge Abdu Samah Nordin...
- JANUARY 28, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
a man was sentenced to death for murder by Additional District and Sessions Judge Rana Muhammad Yousaf and imposed a Rs100,000 fine on him.