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
- JANUARY 1, 2009Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
The sentence of death is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago.
The sentence of death is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago.
- JANUARY 1, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- DECEMBER 31, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
the General Court of Makkah in Saudi Arabia sentenced a 24 year old Saudi man to execution for killing his father and brother
the General Court of Makkah in Saudi Arabia sentenced a 24 year old Saudi man to execution for killing his father and brother
- DECEMBER 31, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
in Taif, a Saudi Arabian man who was sentenced to death for murder was pardoned at the last minute by his victim’s mother
in Taif, a Saudi Arabian man who was sentenced to death for murder was pardoned at the last minute by his victim’s mother
- DECEMBER 30, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a village official in east China's Zhejiang Province was sentenced to death for hiring five men to murder an election rival
a village official in east China's Zhejiang Province was sentenced to death for hiring five men to murder an election rival
- DECEMBER 30, 2008GhanaDEATH PENALTY
a 20 year old Ghanaian was sentenced to death in Singapore for trafficking 2.6 kgs of cannabis
a 20 year old Ghanaian was sentenced to death in Singapore for trafficking 2.6 kgs of cannabis
- DECEMBER 30, 2008ThailandDEATH PENALTY
Thailand's Criminal Court delivered a death sentence to a man on charges of masterminding the premeditated murder of a noted environmental activist four years ago
Thailand's Criminal Court delivered a death sentence to a man on charges of masterminding the premeditated murder of a noted environmental activist four years ago
- DECEMBER 30, 2008QatarDEATH PENALTY
Qatar’s Supreme Court of Justice ordered the retrial of a Qatari man who was handed death penalty by an appeal court in a murder case
Qatar’s Supreme Court of Justice ordered the retrial of a Qatari man who was handed death penalty by an appeal court in a murder case
- DECEMBER 29, 2008QatarDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death following a road rage incident in Qatar in which he fired shots at another motorist
a man was sentenced to death following a road rage incident in Qatar in which he fired shots at another motorist
- DECEMBER 29, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for killing a super model after twice having sex with her
a man was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for killing a super model after twice having sex with her
- DECEMBER 29, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
three executives of the state-owned Yunnan Copper Group, China's third-largest copper producer, were sentenced in a bribery case
three executives of the state-owned Yunnan Copper Group, China's third-largest copper producer, were sentenced in a bribery case
- DECEMBER 28, 2008TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
an Anglican Church leader commended former President Benjamin Mkapa for his stance against the death sentence during his term. Bishop John Ramadhan
an Anglican Church leader commended former President Benjamin Mkapa for his stance against the death sentence during his term. Bishop John Ramadhan
- DECEMBER 26, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a 38-year-old man was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for murdering prominent lawyer
a 38-year-old man was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for murdering prominent lawyer
- DECEMBER 25, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a former provincial official in eastern China was given a suspended death sentence after being convicted of corruption and bribery
a former provincial official in eastern China was given a suspended death sentence after being convicted of corruption and bribery
- DECEMBER 23, 2008St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
international human rights groups and local politicians condemned the first hanging for more than a decade in the tiny Caribbean country of St Kitts and Nevis
international human rights groups and local politicians condemned the first hanging for more than a decade in the tiny Caribbean country of St Kitts and Nevis
- DECEMBER 23, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a court in Bangladesh meted out the death sentence for three militants of the banned Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HUJI)
a court in Bangladesh meted out the death sentence for three militants of the banned Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HUJI)
- DECEMBER 23, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
a primary court in Peshawar city in the North West Frontier Province of neighbouring Pakistan sentenced two Afghan nationals to death for killing their cousin
a primary court in Peshawar city in the North West Frontier Province of neighbouring Pakistan sentenced two Afghan nationals to death for killing their cousin
- DECEMBER 23, 2008South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein handed down the death sentence to Kenneth Justus
USA - South Carolina. Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein handed down the death sentence to Kenneth Justus
- DECEMBER 21, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
prosecutors are preparing for Indonesia’s 11th execution this year
prosecutors are preparing for Indonesia’s 11th execution this year
- DECEMBER 20, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
District and Sessions Judge Sohail Nasir awarded the death sentence to an assailant convicted in a murder case
District and Sessions Judge Sohail Nasir awarded the death sentence to an assailant convicted in a murder case
- DECEMBER 19, 2008St. Vincent & GrenadinesDEATH PENALTY
a St Vincentian man, who beheaded a woman in broad daylight in December 2006, was sentenced to death by the High Court
a St Vincentian man, who beheaded a woman in broad daylight in December 2006, was sentenced to death by the High Court
- DECEMBER 19, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a bus driver convicted in a murder and rape of computer engineer in 2000...
a bus driver convicted in a murder and rape of computer engineer in 2000...
DECEMBER 19, 2008St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTYST KITTS: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING WIFE
at about 8 am, Charles Elroy Laplace became the first convict in the St Kitts to hang in 10 years. The 40-
- DECEMBER 18, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: 2 MEN GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING A BOY IN CTG
two men are to walk to the gallows for killing a boy at Dulalabad colony in Bangladesh in 2007.
- DECEMBER 18, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China sentenced the head of a human trafficking ring that lured dozens of women with promises of work
China sentenced the head of a human trafficking ring that lured dozens of women with promises of work
DECEMBER 18, 2008KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: NINE WARDERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
nine prison warders were sentenced to death for the murder of six inmates at the King’ong’o Maximum
- DECEMBER 17, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
a man from Aceh, Indonesia, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 10 strokes of the rotan
a man from Aceh, Indonesia, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 10 strokes of the rotan
- DECEMBER 16, 2008Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
HAMAS-RUN COURT GIVES DEATH PENALTY TO GAZAN FOR COOPERATING WITH ISRAEL
a Palestinian military court sentenced a Gaza Strip resident to hang for alleged security cooperation
DECEMBER 16, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: DEATH FOR NINE IN MURDER CASE
Fast Track Court-II and Additional Sessions Judge Javed Pasha sentenced nine peope to death and