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
- AUGUST 7, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: KURDISH ACTIVISTS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
two Kurdish activists were condemned to death in a closed court hearing in the Iranian city of Sanandaj.
- AUGUST 7, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA EXECUTES MAN FOR SERIAL MURDERS
Indonesia executed a man sentenced to death seven years ago for murdering four people, despite a call from international human rights groups to halt the execution.
- AUGUST 6, 2008KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING DAUGHTER
a woman was sentenced to death for killing her step daughter in Kenya. Agnes Teresia Amati was found guilty of having committed the offence five years ago.
- AUGUST 5, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: HC UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY OF 9 ‘OUTLAWS’
the Bangladeshi High Court upheld the death sentences given by a trial court to nine cadres of a banned outfit for killing Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president Kazi Aref Ahmed and four other party leaders in Kushtia nine years ago.
- AUGUST 5, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: LEAKY TOILET LEADS TO DEATH SENTENCE
a Chinese official was sentenced to death for corruption after a leaky toilet led to the discovery of his hoard of illicit cash.
- AUGUST 5, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: FOUR DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
four people were sentenced to death by a court in Lohardaga, India, for killing eight members of a family last year after a feud over land. District and Sessions Judge Goutam Kumar Choudhury pronounced the judgement against Mofil Khan, Mubark Khan, Wakil
- AUGUST 5, 2008SudanDEATH PENALTY
SUDAN: DARFUR ‘REBELS’ APPEAL DEATH PENALTIES
in Sudan, eight Darfur ‘rebels’ facing death penalties for terrorists attacks on Khartoum appealed against their convictions, a lawyer said.
- AUGUST 5, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
USA - Texas executed José E. Medellín
- AUGUST 4, 2008ThailandDEATH PENALTY
29 NIGERIANS ESCAPE DEATH SENTENCE IN THAILAND, AFGHANISTAN
twenty-nine Nigerians, condemned to death in Thailand and Afghanistan for drug-related offences, had their sentences commuted to prison terms.
- AUGUST 4, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
TWO NIGERIANS TO HANG IN MALAYSIA FOR MURDER
the appeal by two Nigerians against the death sentences was dismissed by the Malaysian Federal Court.
- JULY 31, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: UNLICENSED DRIVER GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR INTENTIONALLY DRAGGING, KILLING GIRL
a man with no driving license was sentenced to death for dragging and killing an 8 year old girl with his car, according to a court verdict in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.
- JULY 31, 2008SudanDEATH PENALTY
SUDAN: 22 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
anti-terrorisms courts in Sudan sentenced another 22 of the alleged Darfur rebels to death for terrorism and involvement in the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
- JULY 29, 2008SudanDEATH PENALTY
EIGHT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
in Sudan, a judge of the Khartoum Anti-terrorism Court No 1 sentenced eight Darfur ‘rebels’ to death over an assault near the capital, Khartoum, in May.
- JULY 29, 2008United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: TWO INDIAN MEN SPARED DEATH ROW IN SHARJAH
in a major reprieve in the United Arab Emirates, a Sharjah court pardoned two Indian migrant workers.
- JULY 25, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF 5 YEAR OLD
the Indian Supreme Court sentenced a man, identified as Bantu, to death for raping and murdering a five year old girl and attempting to cover up the crime as an accident.
- JULY 24, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
USA - The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past 2 decades
- JULY 23, 2008KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT. FILIPINA NOT SENTENCED TO DEATH, SAYS AMBASSADOR
Ricardo Endaya, Ambassador of the Philippines to Kuwait, stated in an interview with Al Watan Daily that, contrary to reports published by a local English daily, Jakatia Pawa, a Filipina domestic worker accused of murdering the daughter of her employer, w
- JULY 23, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN AWARDED DEATH SENTENCE
in Pakistan, Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhary Anwar Ahmed awarded the death sentence to Nadeem Akhtar and acquitted his mother of the murder of Muhammad Iqbal.
- JULY 22, 2008PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today said the state may force 2 death row inmates to take anti-psychotic medication in order to render them mentally competent to proceed with their cases
USA - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today said the state may force 2 death row inmates to take anti-psychotic medication in order to render them mentally competent to proceed with their cases
- JULY 21, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - In Sanford, a jury recommended the death penalty for William Silvia Jr..
USA - In Sanford, a jury recommended the death penalty for William Silvia Jr..
- JULY 20, 2008Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
ANOTHER PALESTINIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HELPING ISRAEL
Eyad Ahmed Sukkar, 35, was sentenced to death by firing squad in a Gaza City court after prosecutors charged him with transferring information to Israel that resulted in the deaths of two wanted Hamas terrorists.
- JULY 17, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: BALI BOMBERS FACE EXECUTION AFTER LOSING APPEAL
Indonesia's Supreme Court dismissed the final appeal by three militants convicted of the 2002 Bali bombings, thereby clearing the way for their execution.
- JULY 16, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
ICJ RULES AGAINST IMMINENT EXECUTION OF MEXICANS IN US
the International Court of Justice ordered the United States to do all it can to
- JULY 15, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: TWO GET DEATH SENTENCE IN DOUBLE MURDER CASE
in Nawabshah, Pakistan, two accused in a double murder case were awarded the death penalty after charges against them were proved.
- JULY 14, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA - A Fulton County jury sentenced Demetrius G. Willis to death
USA - A Fulton County jury sentenced Demetrius G. Willis to death
- JULY 13, 2008NigerDEATH PENALTY
a Niger court sentenced an ethnic Tuareg...
a Niger court sentenced an ethnic Tuareg...
- JULY 11, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a Vietnamese court sentenced two Taiwanese...
a Vietnamese court sentenced two Taiwanese...
- JULY 10, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTY
EP. RESOLUTION IN FAVOUR OF TROY DAVIS ADOPTED
the European Parliament adopted a resolution proposed by the Radicals and reaffirmed their active
- JULY 10, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death for killing and robbing...
a man was sentenced to death for killing and robbing...
- JULY 9, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. TWO UYGHURS EXECUTED IN KASHGAR AFTER MASS SENTENCING RALLY
Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang executed two ethnic minority