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 1, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY AND MURDER
the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced Lu Shaoping, a Hubei Province native, to death for robbery and murder. His accomplice Zeng Zhaoli was given a sentence of 14 years.
- OCTOBER 31, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. PAKISTANI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR INDIA FORT ATTACK
a Delhi court sentenced to death Mohammad Ashfaq, a Pakistani, over a militant attack at New Delhi's famous 17th Century Red Fort in December 2000.
- OCTOBER 28, 2005KansasDEATH PENALTY
Shawnee County District Judge Matthew Dowd imposed the death penalty on Phillip Cheatham
Shawnee County District Judge Matthew Dowd imposed the death penalty on Phillip Cheatham
- OCTOBER 28, 2005TexasDEATH PENALTY
Potter County jurors sentenced Travis Trevino Runnels to death
Potter County jurors sentenced Travis Trevino Runnels to death
- OCTOBER 28, 2005PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
THE PHILIPPINES. MANILA COURT SENTENCES THREE MILITANTS TO DEATH
a Philippine court sentenced three Muslim militants, including an Indonesian, to death for the bombing of a bus that killed four people in Manila on February 14, 2005.
- OCTOBER 28, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
it was reported that recently, a court in China sentenced to death Wang Renyou...
it was reported that recently, a court in China sentenced to death Wang Renyou...
- OCTOBER 27, 2005BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH. 6 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF CO-VILLAGER
an Additional District and Sessions court in Manikganj, Bangladesh, sentenced to death six men for killing a neighbour at Garakol, Sadar district.
- OCTOBER 27, 2005BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF WIFE
the Noakhali district court, Bangladesh, sentenced to death Arifur Rahman for murdering his young wife after failing to obtain dowry from her parents at Char Bata, Subarna Char district.
- OCTOBER 27, 2005AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
a jury voted 10-2 in recommending the death penalty for Jeremy Bryan Jones
a jury voted 10-2 in recommending the death penalty for Jeremy Bryan Jones
- OCTOBER 26, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. POLICE DEFEND TIP-OFF THAT LEFT 'BALI NINE' FACING EXECUTION
Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty defended a tip-off to Indonesian authorities that left nine young Australians, the so-called "Bali Nine", facing the death penalty on drugs charges.
- OCTOBER 26, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. TEENAGERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TWIN MURDERS IN 2003
an additional session court in Mumbai, India, sentenced to death Assis Domnic Warawale and Clint Ernish Fernandes, and gave five years rigorous imprisonment to Wilfred Dias for the murder of Leticia Xavier Mendes and her grandson Master Dylon Sunil Lobo.
- OCTOBER 25, 2005TexasDEATH PENALTY
Alfred Dewayne Brown was sentenced to death by a Harris County jury.
Alfred Dewayne Brown was sentenced to death by a Harris County jury.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
- OCTOBER 24, 2005Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
In Palestinian areas three types of legislation are applied.
In Palestinian areas three types of legislation are applied.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
CALIFORNIA. EXECUTION ORDERED FOR CRIPS COFOUNDER
a judge signed a death warrant for Stanley ''Tookie" Williams, a cofounder of the notorious Crips gang who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his children's books.
- OCTOBER 23, 2005BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH. HUSBAND OF TELEVISION STAR TO HANG FOR HER MURDER
a court in Bangladesh sentenced Abul Kaiser Chisti, the husband of a high-profile television presenter, to death by hanging after convicting him of her murder. Irin, 32, the presenter of a prime-time variety show, was gunned down in front of her four-year
- OCTOBER 23, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Etemaad daily reported that three men were sentenced to death in Iran.
Etemaad daily reported that three men were sentenced to death in Iran.
- OCTOBER 22, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. FOURTEEN CONDEMNED INMATES ON DEATH ROW, PRIME MINISTER
fourteen condemned prisoners sit on death row in Iraq following the execution on September 1 of three for terror activities, Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari told reporters.
- OCTOBER 21, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 4.6 GRAMS OF HEROIN
Lakshman Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan man, was sentenced to death following a five-year trial for possessing 4.64 grams of heroin.
- OCTOBER 21, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. MAN GIVEN SUSPENDED DEATH SENTENCE FOR TAX EVASION
in its initial trial, a court in China’s Guangdong province sentenced Liang Jiayao, 39-year-old owner of Ming Sheng Leather Making Factory, to death with two years reprieve;
- OCTOBER 19, 2005BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH. COUNTRY CRITICISED FOR "CHILD" DEATH SENTENCE
the international children's charity Save the Children, criticized the case of Sukur Ali a man sentenced to death for crimes he committed when he was 14 years old.
- OCTOBER 17, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. WOMAN SENTENCED TO EXECUTION
an Iranian woman was sentenced to execution in the Iranian capital Tehran.
- OCTOBER 15, 2005JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. TRIO CONVICTED OF MURDERING FOUR SENT TO GALLOWS
the Nagoya High Court sentenced three men to death for murdering four people in 1994, crimes that occurred when the defendants were still minors.
- OCTOBER 15, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. GUJARAT COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
a fast track sessions court in Bhuj, India, sentenced to death Shahnawaz Abdul Gafur, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, after finding him guilty of waging war against the nation.
- OCTOBER 14, 2005PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN. ATC AWARDS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Taj Muhammad was sentenced to death by the Special Anti Terrorist Court in Sibi, Pakistan.
- OCTOBER 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. 8 GUN SMUGGLERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN QINGHAI
four gun smugglers were sentenced to death at the first trial by a local court in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
- OCTOBER 11, 2005CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED STATES. SUPREME COURT DENIES APPEAL BY STANLEY ‘TOOKIE’ WILLIAMS
the US Supreme Court declined to review the case of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a California death-row inmate whose attorneys argued that the prosecutor had engaged in racial discrimination in selecting the jury for his trial.
- OCTOBER 11, 2005JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN. MAN RECEIVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR FATALLY POISONING FAMILY
according to the “Jordan Times”, a 28-year-old man was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court for the fatal poisoning of his nephews following family arguments over his engagement plans.
- OCTOBER 10, 2005UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA. LUZIRA EXECUTIONS DEVASTATE PRISONERS AND HANGMEN, FIDH REPORT
the way executions are carried out in Luzira Upper Prison, Uganda, has a devastating effect on both the prison personnel and the other death row inmates, a report by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said.
- OCTOBER 10, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. SADDAM MAY BE EXECUTED BEFORE ALL CASES DECIDED
Saddam Hussein could be executed before the Iraqi Special Tribunal finishes charging him with all his alleged crimes, a source close to the tribunal said.