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
- APRIL 21, 2008YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMENI GETS DEATH SENTENCE OVER UNIVERSITY GRENADE ATTACK
a Yemeni state security court sentenced to death a man convicted of detonating a
- APRIL 17, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: THREE MEN ARE TO WALK GALLOWS FOR MURDER IN CHUADANGA
the district court in Chuadanga, Bangladesh, sentenced three men to death and two others to life imprisonment for the murder of a UP member at Alamdanga 12 years ago
- APRIL 17, 2008BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: DHAKA SEEKS CLEMENCY FOR 8 CITIZENS ON DEATH ROW IN S ARABIA
Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed sought amnesty from Saudi Arabia for eight Bangladeshis sentenced to death on a murder charge, foreign ministry and Bangabhaban presidential palace officials said.
- APRIL 16, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. CONDEMNED JOURNALIST WINS RIGHT TO APPEAL DEATH SENTENCE
a young Afghan journalist, sentenced to death in January for spreading feminist
- APRIL 16, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA DEATH BY HANGING FOR MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER
a 29 year old factory van driver was sentenced to death by hanging after a High Court in Johor Baru, Malaysia, convicted him of murder.
- APRIL 16, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: DEATH SENTENCES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Bac Giang People’s Court in Vietnam sentenced three to death for drug trafficking, four to life imprisonment and a total of 122 years in prison to another 13.
- APRIL 15, 2008GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA. WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
a Cape Coast High Court in Ghana sentenced a woman, Adjoa Badu, believed to
- APRIL 15, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: TAMIL NADU MAN GETS DEATH FOR BURNING CHILD TO DEATH
in India, a man named Venkatesan Anna was sentenced to death for the murder of a nine year old girl named Rebecca.
- APRIL 14, 2008DEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. FOUR BEHEADED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four death row prisoners have been executed in Saudi Arabia, the authorities announced.
- APRIL 12, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
a Turkish barber accused of swearing at God was sentenced to death in Saudi
a Turkish barber accused of swearing at God was sentenced to death in Saudi
- APRIL 11, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. 19YO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
at a lower court in Kochi, India, Principal Sessions Judge Ernakulam, D
- APRIL 11, 2008ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 6-4 against the Senate Bill 195 that would have allowed the execution of people who sexually assault children younger than age 13.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 6-4 against the Senate Bill 195 that would have allowed the execution of people who sexually assault children younger than age 13.
- APRIL 9, 2008LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing today the constitutionality of imposing the death penalty on a child rapist.
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing today the constitutionality of imposing the death penalty on a child rapist.
- APRIL 8, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: MAN ACCEPTS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING 2 RELATIVES
a 26 year old Japanese man withdrew his appeal against the death penalty imposed on him for killing two relatives and stealing their money, the Kyoto District Court said.
- APRIL 8, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE WAITER GETS DEATH FOR ARSON THAT KILLED 11
a Chinese court sentenced a man to death for setting fire to the karaoke bar where he worked, killing 11 people, the official Xinhua news agency said.
- APRIL 7, 2008AustriaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRIA ASKS CHINA TO REVOKE DEATH PENALTY ON CHINESE 'SPY'
Austria's President Heinz Fischer appealed to Beijing to spare the life of a
- APRIL 7, 2008DEATH PENALTY
LIBYA. GHANAIAN ON DEATH ROW APPEALS FOR RELEASE
Kwabena Kamkam, the Ghanaian on death row in Libya, says he faces imminent
- APRIL 7, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
the military tribunal in Biskra, Algeria...
the military tribunal in Biskra, Algeria...
- APRIL 6, 2008SudanDEATH PENALTY
SUDAN. TORTURE LANDED 10 INMATES ON DEATH ROW, LAWYERS SAY
the lives of 10 Sudanese on death row are hanging in the balance as their lawyers
- APRIL 6, 2008Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
PA. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Palestinian High Military Court in Jenin sentenced Mr Tha'er Mahmoud Husni
- APRIL 4, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. SC STAYS DEATH PENALTY OF MUMBAI BLAST CONVICT
India’s Supreme Court stayed the death sentence of Zakir Hussain Noor
- APRIL 4, 2008United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. BRITISH MAN ESCAPES DEATH SENTENCE
A Vietnamese-born British citizen condemned to death for heroin trafficking has
- APRIL 4, 2008KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
INDIAN IN KUWAIT'S DEATH ROW GETS HELP FROM NRIS
an Indian sentenced to death in Kuwait for the murder of a Nepali girl is likely to get a fresh stab at life thanks to generous NRIs in the Gulf region who paid blood money to the victim's family.
- APRIL 3, 2008South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF MARINE
a South Korean man was sentenced to death in a court-martial for killing a South
- APRIL 2, 2008DEATH PENALTY
VIRGINIA (USA). EXECUTIONS ARE PUT ON HOLD
Virginia put all executions on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether
- APRIL 2, 2008North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
Glen Chapman, 40, was released from Central Prison on Wednesday
Glen Chapman, 40, was released from Central Prison on Wednesday
- APRIL 1, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
three Algerian Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia...
three Algerian Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia...
- MARCH 31, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: MAN APPEALS DEATH SENTENCE 'TO PUT MY AFFAIRS STRAIGHT'
in Japan, a 26 year old man in sentenced to death for killing two relatives appealed the ruling...
- MARCH 29, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH
two murder convicts were awarded the death sentence for killing a rickshaw driver two years ago in Okara, Pakistan. Sarfraz and Liaqat Ali killed rickshaw driver Mushtaq.
- MARCH 29, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
the military tribunal in Bourmedés, Algeria...
the military tribunal in Bourmedés, Algeria...