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 4, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A Los Angeles County jury has recommended the death penalty for Ruben Becerrada.
USA - California. A Los Angeles County jury has recommended the death penalty for Ruben Becerrada.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A Los Angeles County jury has recommended the death penalty for Ruben Becerrada
USA - California. A Los Angeles County jury has recommended the death penalty for Ruben Becerrada
- NOVEMBER 3, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a special court in Patuakhali, Bangladesh, sentenced two people to death and 19 others to life term imprisonment in the sensational Jasim murder case
a special court in Patuakhali, Bangladesh, sentenced two people to death and 19 others to life term imprisonment in the sensational Jasim murder case
- NOVEMBER 3, 2008MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
a Mongolian citizen was sentenced to death in far western China for smuggling 20.2 kg of heroin, Mongolian news agency Montsame said
a Mongolian citizen was sentenced to death in far western China for smuggling 20.2 kg of heroin, Mongolian news agency Montsame said
- NOVEMBER 1, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLAST
a man was given the death penalty for blowing up a government office and injuring 18 people, according to sources with a local court in central China's Hunan Province.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
two young men in their early 20s were sentenced to death in Kushtia, Bangladesh, for the murder of another young man in a rivalry to win the heart of a girl at Daulatpur in 2006.
two young men in their early 20s were sentenced to death in Kushtia, Bangladesh, for the murder of another young man in a rivalry to win the heart of a girl at Daulatpur in 2006.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a court in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, sentenced a man to death for killing his sister’s mother-in-law.
a court in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, sentenced a man to death for killing his sister’s mother-in-law.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
in Pakistan, Kasur Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Ahsan Mahboob awarded the death sentence to three notorious armed robbers convicted of the murder of two brothers in a nearby village
in Pakistan, Kasur Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Ahsan Mahboob awarded the death sentence to three notorious armed robbers convicted of the murder of two brothers in a nearby village
- OCTOBER 30, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: FORMER BEIJING COURT PRESIDENT GIVEN SUSPENDED DEATH SENTENCE FOR BRIBERY
a former Beijing court president was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in China for bribery and embezzlement.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. In Torrance, Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold upheld the September 11 (see) jury's recommendation, and sentenced Barry Wendell Mosley to death.
USA - California. In Torrance, Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold upheld the September 11 (see) jury's recommendation, and sentenced Barry Wendell Mosley to death.
- OCTOBER 29, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a court in Chuadanga, Bangladesh, sentenced three 'extremists' to death in a sensational 1996 murder
a court in Chuadanga, Bangladesh, sentenced three 'extremists' to death in a sensational 1996 murder
- OCTOBER 29, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
in Pakistan, Kasur Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Azam Khan awarded the death sentence and a Rs 25000 fine each to two men
in Pakistan, Kasur Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Azam Khan awarded the death sentence and a Rs 25000 fine each to two men
- OCTOBER 29, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Indian Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of the state of Uttar Pradesh and directed the acquittal of two
the Indian Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of the state of Uttar Pradesh and directed the acquittal of two
- OCTOBER 28, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: SUSPENSION OF ZULFIQAR ALI'S EXECUTION EXTENDED
in Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali's 14 day stay of execution was extended another 60 days to allow time for negotiations for a compromise between the families.
- OCTOBER 27, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a court in Rajbari, Bangladesh, sentenced three people to death and eight others to life term imprisonment in a triple murder case
a court in Rajbari, Bangladesh, sentenced three people to death and eight others to life term imprisonment in a triple murder case
- OCTOBER 27, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
a court in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sentenced four people to death for the murder of six people, including four children, at a residence at Pallabi of the city
a court in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sentenced four people to death for the murder of six people, including four children, at a residence at Pallabi of the city
- OCTOBER 27, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
District and Sessions Judge Mirza Rafi-uz-Zaman awarded the death sentence and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rafaqat Mahmood
District and Sessions Judge Mirza Rafi-uz-Zaman awarded the death sentence and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rafaqat Mahmood
- OCTOBER 27, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. DEATH FOR COUPLE FOR KILLING LOVE RIVAL
in China, a Shanghai court sentenced a man to death for killing the ex-husband of his lover. The convict, identified as Wang, was also charged with dismembering the victim's body and dumping the head along the railway tracks between Shanghai and Jiangsu P
- OCTOBER 23, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE VICE MAYOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TAKING BRIBES
the former vice mayor of a city in eastern China was sentenced to death for taking more than 100 million
- OCTOBER 23, 2008BurundiDEATH PENALTY
BURUNDI COLONEL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CIVILIAN MASSACRE: COURT
a fugitive Burundian army officer was sentenced to death in absentia for the killing of 31 civilians at an army base in 2006, legal officials and witnesses said.
- OCTOBER 22, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING
an odd-job worker in Shah Alam, Malaysia, was sent to the gallows for trafficking in drugs three years ago.
- OCTOBER 22, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. A DeKalb County jury delivered 3 death sentences to Clayton Jerrod Ellington
USA - Georgia. A DeKalb County jury delivered 3 death sentences to Clayton Jerrod Ellington
- OCTOBER 21, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DOMESTIC HELP GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING EMPLOYER'S SON
a Delhi Court in India awarded the death sentence to a domestic help for killing his employer’s four-year-old son when he resisted his attempt to rape his sister in 2006.
- OCTOBER 21, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH, TWO TO LIFE, FOR KILLING IN JHENIDAH
a court in Jhenidah, Bangladesh, sentenced four people to death and two others to life imprisonment in a murder case.
- OCTOBER 21, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. Jurors sentenced Clayton Jerrod Ellington, 31, black, to death
USA - Georgia. Jurors sentenced Clayton Jerrod Ellington, 31, black, to death
- OCTOBER 20, 2008PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
US SUPREME COURT ASKED TO REVIEW BLACK PANTHER DEATH SENTENCE
The state of Pennsylvania has asked the US Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision to overturn
- OCTOBER 20, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR POLICE KILLER
in China, a Shanghai court upheld the death penalty for Yang Jia, a jobless Beijing man who stormed into a Shanghai police bureau earlier this year and killed six officers
- OCTOBER 20, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. An Alameda County jury says Anthony McKnight should get the death penalty
USA - California. An Alameda County jury says Anthony McKnight should get the death penalty
- OCTOBER 20, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen sentenced Roy Phillip Ballard to death.
USA - Florida. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen sentenced Roy Phillip Ballard to death.
- OCTOBER 19, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. FORMER BEIJING VICE MAYOR GIVEN SUSPENDED DEATH PENALTY FOR BRIBERY
Beijing's former vice mayor Liu Zhihua was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes,