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
JUNE 27, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 4 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 1971 WAR CRIMES IN JASHORE
A war crimes tribunal has sentenced four people to death for killings in Jashore during the 1971 Liberation War.
JUNE 26, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ONDO COURT SENTENCES 78-YEAR-OLD TO DEATH FOR KILLING PROPRIETOR
A 78-year-old man, Ojo Komolafe, has been sentenced to death by an Ondo state High Court for killing a school proprietor, Taofik Babalola, Punch reported on June 23, 2023.
- JUNE 25, 2023VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: THREE TAIWANESE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Taiwanese were sentenced to death in Ho Chi Minh City on June 22, 2023 for trafficking some 480 kg of drugs.
JUNE 23, 2023FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Dane Abdool sentenced to death for 2nd time
JUNE 22, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 7 SENTENCED TO DEATH, 5 TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER IN CUMILLA
A court has handed down the death penalty to seven people and sentenced five others to life in prison for the murder of a plumber in Cumilla in 2006.
- JUNE 20, 2023United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: FOUR ASIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Grand Criminal Court at the Federal Primary Court in Abu Dhabi issued a unanimous verdict to execute 4 defendants of Asian nationalities after convicting them of charges related to the importation and trafficking of drugs, Emirates 24|7 reported on Ju
- JUNE 17, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mahmoud Rakhshani executed in Zahedan on June 17
JUNE 17, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: TWO GET DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER IN CUMILLA
A Cumilla court on June 14, 2023 sentenced two people to death over the murder of a man in Homna upazila in 2010.
- JUNE 15, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Man (not identified) sentenced to death for killing MP
JUNE 15, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH ROW CONVICT ARRESTED AFTER ALMOST 20 YEARS
A 54-year-old man who had been in hiding for almost two decades and was later sentenced to death was arrested on June 14, 2023 in Ragama.
JUNE 15, 2023FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Duane Owen, 62, White, was executed
JUNE 15, 2023ArizonaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Arizona. Barry Jones Freed from Arizona’s Death Row after 29 Years
The death sentence commutes to 25 years, which the man has already served
JUNE 15, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: RIVERS STATE COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING, MURDER
Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on June 15, 2023 convicted and sentenced two middle-aged men to death by hanging for kidnapping and killing a prominent Rivers State businessman, Festus Mac-Pepple and one Friday Uranta in 2008.
JUNE 14, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: JUDGES RULE ON APPEAL OF MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE
A court of Appeal in Kisumu on June 12, 2023 dismissed an appeal filed by a convict serving a death sentence for stealing Nokia 3110, among other valuables worth Ksh46,000.
JUNE 12, 2023VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 10 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The People's Court of the northwestern province of Son La handed out 10 death penalties and one life sentence to members of a drug trafficking ring during trials from June 1-5.
JUNE 8, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING IMPREGNATED CHOIR MISTRESS, TWO OTHERS
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on June 5, 2023 sentenced a pastor, Chidiebere Okoroafor, to death by hanging for murder.
JUNE 7, 2023PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE IN BLASPHEMY CASE
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan's Mardan on May 30, 2023 convicted a man of committing blasphemy and sentenced him to death along with a fine of Rs 4,00,000, Pakistan-based The News International newspaper reported.
JUNE 7, 2023IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: 2 BUNDI MEN ON DEATH ROW FOR RAPE, MURDER ACQUITTED BY HC
Two men who were found guilty and sentenced to death by a POCSO court last year for the gang-rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Bundi district in 2021 were acquitted on June 2, 2023 by Rajasthan High Court.
JUNE 6, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ADEDOYIN, TWO WORKERS GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
An Osun State High Court on May 30, 2023 sentenced popular hotel owner Ramon Adedoyin and two others to death in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, an ex-Master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
JUNE 6, 2023VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: TWO AUSTRALIANS FACING DEATH PENALTY GRANTED CLEMENCY
Two Australians sentenced to death in Vietnam have been granted clemency after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid an official visit to the Southeast Asian country.
JUNE 6, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: FIVE GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING SCHOOLBOY IN CUMILLA
A court in Cumilla on June 4, 2023 sentenced five people to death for killing a schoolboy in the district on 2012.
JUNE 6, 2023MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Michael Tisius, 42, White, executed
After Jurors Waver on Death Sentence
JUNE 1, 2023PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: YOUNG CHRISTIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ALLEGED BLASPHEMY THROUGH WHATSAPP
Nouman Asghar, a 24-year-old Christian from the city of Bahawalpur, in Punjab, was sentenced to death for blasphemy on May 30, 2023 by a court of first instance in Bahawalpur.
JUNE 1, 2023IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MATHURA COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER OF MINOR BOY IN 15-DAY TRIAL
A special court in Mathura, dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) on May 29, 2023 sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a 9-year-old boy.
MAY 31, 2023OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. George Brinkman sentenced to death again
- MAY 30, 2023LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA COURT SENTENCES 23 TO DEATH FOR ISIL CAMPAIGN
A Libyan court on May 29, 2023 sentenced 23 people to death and another 14 to life in prison for their role in a deadly ISIL (ISIS) campaign that included beheading a group of Egyptian Christians and seizing the city of Sirte in 2015.
- MAY 30, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - EzatAli Sabzi and Mohammad Kazemi executed in Karaj on May 30
MAY 29, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 8 SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING BCL LEADER
A court in Laxmipur on May 29, 2023 sentenced eight people to death by hanging for killing Chhatra League leader Mehedi Hasan Jashim by firing in 2013.
- MAY 25, 2023PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: FOUR GET DEATH PENALTY ON TWO COUNTS FOR MURDER DURING ARMED ROBBERY
A Karachi West district model trial court handed down death penalty on two counts to each of the four suspects accused of killing a man and injuring two others during an armed robbery, The Tribune Express reported on May 16, 2023.
MAY 24, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The death sentence of protester Mohammad Ghobadloo has been upheld