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
- NOVEMBER 26, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: EX-SOCCER STAR AND FRIEND GET DEATH SENTENCES
a former soccer player was sentenced to death with two years' reprieve in China for killing a man after failing to pay gambling debts last year.
- NOVEMBER 26, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
MAN EXECUTED FOR POLICE KILLINGS IN CHINA
a 28-year-old man convicted of killing six policemen in Shanghai was executed...
- NOVEMBER 25, 2008GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA: MURDER ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH
a Gambian court handed down a death sentence to a police officer who killed a man during a police raid in 2007, local journalists said
- NOVEMBER 25, 2008UgandaDEATH PENALTY
EIGHT AFRICANS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN CHINA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
eight Africans were sentenced to death in southern China after being convicted of drug smuggling, state press reported.
NOVEMBER 25, 2008ThailandDEATH PENALTYTHAILAND: TWO ISRAELI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG OFFENCES
two Israelis convicted of drug trafficking were sentenced to death by a Thai
- NOVEMBER 22, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA MAY SOON EXECUTE ACCUSED TAIWAN SPY
China could soon execute a man sentenced to death for spying for diplomatic and political rival Taiwan...
- NOVEMBER 20, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. TWO OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Two former officials from China's Hunan Province were sentenced to death for taking bribes.
- NOVEMBER 20, 2008United States Armed ForcesDEATH PENALTY
USA. FIRST MILITARY EXECUTION SINCE 1961 SCHEDULED NEXT MONTH
A U.S. soldier convicted of rape and murder two decades ago will be executed December 10 in the
- NOVEMBER 20, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The U.S. military had scheduled its first execution since 1961 for December 10
USA - The U.S. military had scheduled its first execution since 1961 for December 10
- NOVEMBER 20, 2008North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. A Forsyth County jury handed down the death penalty in the case of James Ray Little III
USA - North Carolina. A Forsyth County jury handed down the death penalty in the case of James Ray Little III
- NOVEMBER 19, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Circuit Judge O.H. Eaton Jr. gave the death penalty to Andrew Allred
USA - Florida. Circuit Judge O.H. Eaton Jr. gave the death penalty to Andrew Allred
- NOVEMBER 17, 2008TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
CHINA SENTENCES TWO TAIWANESE TO DEATH FO DRUG DEALING
a Chinese court sentenced two Taiwanese, convicted of trafficking heroin from Myanmar, to death.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Alameda County Superior Court judge Jeffrey Horner sentenced Anthony McKnight to death
USA - California. Alameda County Superior Court judge Jeffrey Horner sentenced Anthony McKnight to death
- NOVEMBER 14, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: IRANIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG-TRAFFICKING
a court in Sanaa, Yemen, sentenced an Iranian to death for drug tra
- NOVEMBER 14, 2008NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: CONVICT APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT
Aminu Tanko, who was sentenced to death by a Nigerian State High Court for conspiracy and robbery and whose conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeal appealed to the Supreme Court.
- NOVEMBER 14, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY SINGAPORE COURT FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a 20-year-old Malaysian was sentenced to death by a Singapore court for a drug trafficking offence, the local media reported.
NOVEMBER 14, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTYALGERIA: 12 AL-QAIDA AGENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
a dozen al-Qaida agents have been sentenced to be executed in Algeria after the trial of more than 100
- NOVEMBER 13, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
ABOUT 120 AWAITING EXECUTION IN AFGHANISTAN
About 120 Afghans are on death row and their fate rests with President Hamid Karzai, who has to approve any execution order.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2008AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury has recommended 10-2 the death penalty for Donald Whatley
USA - Alabama. A jury has recommended 10-2 the death penalty for Donald Whatley
- NOVEMBER 11, 2008ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: 27-YEAR-OLD MAN TO HANG
a 27-year-old man of Mwense was sentenced to death by the High Court in Mansa, Zambia, for murder. White Mwape of Chilengwe village in Chief Lubunda's area was convicted of murdering Christopher Mwape of the same area.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: DEATH ROW INMATE, LAWYERS SEEK STATE COMPENSATION
a death row inmate and his two lawyers filed a damages suit against the Japanese state, arguing it is illegal that the Hiroshima Detention House did not allow him to meet the lawyers privately.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: FAMILY OF CULT GURU ON DEATH ROW FILES FOR RETRIAL
the family members of death-row inmate Chizuo Matsumoto, former head of the notorious AUM Shinrikyo religious cult, filed a petition for his retrial with the Tokyo District Court in Japan.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: LHC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
a division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in Pakistan commuted the death sentence of Muhammad Sharif to life imprisonment.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2008MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Carman L. Deck gets death sentence for 3rd time
USA - Missouri. Carman L. Deck gets death sentence for 3rd time
- NOVEMBER 7, 2008TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Wharton County jury decided the death sentence for James Garrett Freeman
USA - Texas. Wharton County jury decided the death sentence for James Garrett Freeman
- NOVEMBER 7, 2008OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A Wood County recommended the eath penalty for Calvin Neyland Jr.
USA - Ohio. A Wood County recommended the eath penalty for Calvin Neyland Jr.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2008OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. A Wood County jury recommended the death penalty for Calvin Neyland Jr.
USA - Ohio. A Wood County jury recommended the death penalty for Calvin Neyland Jr.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. An Orange County jury has recommended the death penalty for Skylar Deleon
USA - California. An Orange County jury has recommended the death penalty for Skylar Deleon
- NOVEMBER 5, 2008MadagascarDEATH PENALTY
six people were sentenced to death in Ambohitsara...
six people were sentenced to death in Ambohitsara...
- NOVEMBER 5, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for Rhonda Norman
USA - Florida. A jury recommended the death penalty for Rhonda Norman