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
- JULY 8, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Qatar freed a Saudi Arabian sentenced to death...
Qatar freed a Saudi Arabian sentenced to death...
- JULY 8, 2008PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
KUWAITI EMIR COMMUTES FILIPINO’S DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE
the death sentence of May Vecina, a Filipino overseas worker sentenced to death for killing her six year old ward in Kuwait, was commuted to life imprisonment by the Emir of Kuwait, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
- JULY 7, 2008CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - A jury recommended the death penalty today for Tecumseh Colbert
USA - A jury recommended the death penalty today for Tecumseh Colbert
- JUNE 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
DEATH SENTENCE FOR IRANIAN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE FOR ISRAEL
an Iranian charged with espionage for Israel was sentenced to dea
- JUNE 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN MAN TO BE STONED TO DEATH DESPITE MORATORIUM
Naghi Ahmadi was sentenced to death by stoning in Iran in June, in the northern city of Sari, after he visited a married woman's home in the night while her husband was away working in another city, the Sarmayeh newspaper reported.
- JUNE 28, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a local fast track court in Aurangabad...
a local fast track court in Aurangabad...
- JUNE 25, 2008United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPING CHILDREN
The Supreme Court outlawed executions of people convicted of raping a child. In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
- JUNE 24, 2008KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT ROYAL'S DEATH SENTENCE CONFIRMED
Kuwait's Supreme Court upheld a death sentence against a member of the
- JUNE 24, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA TO CHANGE PROCESSES AFTER DEATH ROW INMATES RIOT
an Indonesian prison riot involving dozens of death row inmates sparked a change to execution
- JUNE 23, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. COOK GETS DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a 59-year-old cook was sentenced to death by a HighCourt in Malaysia after he was
- JUNE 21, 2008YemenDEATH PENALTY
a Yemeni judge convicted a man of entering...
a Yemeni judge convicted a man of entering...
- JUNE 18, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY
a Pakistani court handed down the death sentence to a man convicted of blasphemy, court
- JUNE 18, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a local fast track court in Buxar...
a local fast track court in Buxar...
- JUNE 17, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. RIGHTS GROUP PUBLISHES LIST OF CHILDREN ON DEATH ROW
Iran has sentenced 177 people under the age of 18 to death over the past decade
- JUNE 17, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a company owner was sentenced to death for swindling...
a company owner was sentenced to death for swindling 33.27 million yuan ($US4.8 million) from illegal fund-raising in east China's Jiangsu Province.
- JUNE 17, 2008ThailandDEATH PENALTY
a chicken seller was sentenced to death by the Kota Bharu High Court...
a chicken seller was sentenced to death by the Kota Bharu High Court...
- JUNE 16, 2008ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
A jury in Arapahoe District Court handed down a unanimous verdict that Sir Mario Owens should die
A jury in Arapahoe District Court handed down a unanimous verdict that Sir Mario Owens should die
- JUNE 16, 2008TexasDEATH PENALTY
The longest-serving prisoner on Texas' death row won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that his case must go back to his trial court
The longest-serving prisoner on Texas' death row won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that his case must go back to his trial court
- JUNE 14, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a court in Panchkula, India...
a court in Panchkula, India...
- JUNE 13, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. DEATH PENALTY FOR POLICE MURDER
Nguyen Van Chuong, 25, received the death penalty for the stabbing murder of 46-year-old Major Nguyen Van Sinh.
- JUNE 13, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: CONVICT FREED AFTER TWO DEATH SENTENCES
Tay Ninh Province resident Nguyen Minh Hung was released from jail despite twice being sentenced to death by local judges for trafficking heroin.
- JUNE 11, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF MINOR
a local court in Coimbatore convicted and sentenced a 34-year-old man to capital punishment for the rape and murder...
- JUNE 10, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. KURDISH BOY EXECUTED
A Kurdish boy, believed to be 16 or 17 years old at the time of execution
- JUNE 9, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. TWO CPI (MAIOST) REBELS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Two CPI (Maoist) rebels were sentenced to death by a fast track court in
- JUNE 9, 2008ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
Maricopa County Superior Court jury sentenced Gary Wayne Snelling to death
Maricopa County Superior Court jury sentenced Gary Wayne Snelling to death
- JUNE 9, 2008YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN COURT SENTENCES REBEL TO DEATH
a Yemeni court sentenced 13 Zaydi Shi'ite rebels to up to 10 years in jail and Jafar al-Murhabi to death...
- JUNE 9, 2008ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
the Zambian Supreme Court sitting in Ndola...
the Zambian Supreme Court sitting in Ndola granted freedom to a man sentenced to death while the another had his death sentence substituted for 10 years imprisonment.
- JUNE 8, 2008UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA: COURT OF APPEAL QUASHES DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST TWO
two people, who were sentenced to death for robbery...
- JUNE 7, 2008LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
A West Baton Rouge Parish jury unanimously ordered the death penalty for Michael Garcia
A West Baton Rouge Parish jury unanimously ordered the death penalty for Michael Garcia
- JUNE 7, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH FOR MAN WHO TORCHED 8 PEOPLE TO DEATH
in India, Additional District Judge RN Chand sentenced 65 year old Farookh alias Nana alias Bashir alias Rauf to death torching eight people to death