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
- JANUARY 1, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
- JANUARY 1, 2007SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
- JANUARY 1, 2007Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
- JANUARY 1, 2007BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
Bangladesh applies the death penalty for such crimes as murder, sedition and drug-trafficking.
Bangladesh applies the death penalty for such crimes as murder, sedition and drug-trafficking.
- JANUARY 1, 2007AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life...
- JANUARY 1, 2007Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law that prescribes the death sentence for murder...
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law that prescribes the death sentence for murder, apostasy, rape, drug trafficking, highway robbery, sabotage and armed robbery.
- JANUARY 1, 2007Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery are capital crimes.
- DECEMBER 28, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
JAPANESE MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN CHINA ON DRUG SMUGGLING CHARGES
a court in China sentenced a Japanese man to death on drug smuggling charges...
- DECEMBER 28, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA SENTENCES SEVEN TO DEATH FOR GANG CRIME
ninety-seven members of a criminal gang were sentenced to death or prison terms ranging from 12 months to life on charges including murder, causing injury and drug trafficking in central China's Hunan Province.
- DECEMBER 26, 2006SyriaDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO THREE 'FOREIGN FIGHTERS'
an Iraqi court sentenced a Saudi, a Syrian and a Sudanese to death after finding them guilty of Al-Qaeda related terrorist offences, the US-led coalition in Iraq said.
- DECEMBER 26, 2006VietnamDEATH PENALTY
THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN VIETNAM FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a court in northern Vietnam sentenced three people to death for drug trafficking, with a police officer getting a life sentence.
- DECEMBER 26, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 5 BY LACING WINE LOSES RIGHT TO RETRIAL
the Nagoya High Court, Japan, revoked an earlier decision it made to retry Masaru Okunishi, an 80 year old man sentenced to death for fatally poising five people.
- DECEMBER 26, 2006VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
the People's Court of Hanoi, Vietnam, sentenced two men to death, and passed life sentences on two others and jail terms of between one year and 30 years on six more for trafficking and transporting drugs.
- DECEMBER 23, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF IN-LAWS
a woman has been sentenced to death by the Shanghai Higher People's Court...
- DECEMBER 22, 2006MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
MOROCCO. COURT SENTENCES TWO BOMB SUSPECTS TO DEATH
a court handed death sentences to two Moroccans arrested in 2005 on suspicion of helping organise suicide attacks in 2003 that killed 45 people in Casablanca, lawyers said.
- DECEMBER 21, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING TEENAGER
two men and a woman were sentenced to death by a court in Hoshiarpur, India, for murdering a 16-year-old schoolboy on February 14, 2005.
- DECEMBER 21, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. EIGHT ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
eight men were sentenced to death by hanging by the Ndola high court, Zambia, for aggravated robbery. Sentencing the eight, High court judge Florence Lengalengain dismissed their mitigation of being first offenders.
- DECEMBER 19, 2006NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR SEVEN CULT MEMBERS
a Lagos High Court in Nigeria convicted seven members of a cult group to death by hanging for the murder of an Islamic cleric.
- DECEMBER 19, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING 4 PEOPLE
Katsumi Morita was sentenced to death for murdering...
- DECEMBER 18, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RUNNING CART INTO WORKERS
a man was sentenced to death in Yiwu in China’s Zhejiang Province for intentionally ramming his tipcart into a crowd, killing three and injuring nine.
- DECEMBER 17, 2006KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
the Criminal Court in Kuwait sentenced Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah...
the Criminal Court in Kuwait sentenced Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah...
- DECEMBER 15, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY FOR INDIA POLICEMAN
a court in India sentenced to death a former senior police official after finding him guilty of killing a man in custody nearly 20 years ago.
- DECEMBER 15, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF STEPSON'S WIFE AND CHILD
Takemitsu Mori was sentenced to death for murdering a woman and her infant son at their apartment.
- DECEMBER 13, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. JOBLESS MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF SISTERS
Yukio Yamaji, 23, was sentenced to death for robbery, murder and rape by the Osaka District Court for sneaking into the home of a woman and her younger sister and murdering them.
- DECEMBER 12, 2006PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN. TWO HANDED DEATH SENTENCE IN MURDER CASE
two men were sentenced to death for murder by a District and Sessions court in Jacobabad, Pakistan.
- DECEMBER 11, 2006AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
Christopher Johnson, 34....
Christopher Johnson, 34, who admitted to jurors that he killed his infant son and asked to be executed, was sentenced to death.
- DECEMBER 10, 2006UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA. 3 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH
the High Court in Arua, Uganda...
- DECEMBER 9, 2006MississippiDEATH PENALTY
Kristi Fulgham was sentenced to the death penalty...
Kristi Fulgham was sentenced to the death penalty, becoming the 3rd woman awaiting execution by lethal injection in Mississippi.
- DECEMBER 9, 2006South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
a jury sentenced to death Anthony Woods, 42, for murdering and raping a woman in her home.
a jury sentenced to death Anthony Woods, 42, for murdering and raping a woman in her home.
- DECEMBER 8, 2006CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
a Van Nuys jury ordered the death penalty for Julian Arturo Beltran, 32.
a Van Nuys jury ordered the death penalty for Julian Arturo Beltran, 32.