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 30, 2020United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: DEATH PENALTY FOR WHITE WEAPON KILLER IN AJMAN
A criminal court in the United Arab Emirates ordered on 26 January 2020 the execution of a convict in the 2018 death of 2 Emirati youths who died a sword fight.
JANUARY 29, 2020SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: SEVEN PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOUTH DARFUR
Seven people were sentenced to death on 27 January 2020 by a court in Nyala, South Darfur, after being found guilty of killing nine people in September 2017, in the area of Tobasi, 43km south of Nyala.
JANUARY 29, 2020CaliforniaDEATH PENALTYUSA - California. Jury recommends death sentence for Hernan Rodriguez
USA - California. Jury recommends death sentence for Hernan Rodriguez
JANUARY 28, 2020LaosDEATH PENALTYLAOS: EIGHT MEMBERS OF MR. X DRUG RING SENTENCED TO DEATH
Authorities in Laos last week sentenced eight people to death for their roles in connection with the major Southeast Asian drug ring run by drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpha, better known as Mr. X., Radio Free Asia reported on 27 January 2020.
JANUARY 28, 2020IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CHILD RAPIST SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 23-year-old man in Haryana was on 27 January 2020 sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl.
JANUARY 28, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MARYAM SANDA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HUSBAND
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 27 January 2020 sentenced to death Maryam Sanda for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
- JANUARY 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 men, Kh. Gh. and A. Gh., hanged in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province on January 27
IRAN - 2 men, Kh. Gh. and A. Gh., hanged in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province on January 27
JANUARY 26, 2020SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: 15-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Sudanese cabinet expressed it unease following a court decision to execute a 15-year-old boy, local media reported.
JANUARY 25, 2020BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING YOUTH
A court in Gaibandha on 16 January 2020 sentenced three people to death for their roles in killing a young man in 2015.
JANUARY 24, 2020IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CONDEMNED PRISONERS CANNOT FIGHT DEATH PENALTY ENDLESSLY (SUPREME COURT)
While hearing a plea to commute the death sentence of two convicts for killing a family of seven, the Supreme Court on 23 January 2020 underlined that the “finality” of death sentence is extremely important and said that condemned prisoners should not be
JANUARY 24, 2020PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for a fourth time against Robert Fisher.
USA - Pennsylvania. Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for a fourth time against Robert Fisher.
JANUARY 24, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Nevada. Paul Browning becomes the 168th person exonerated from death row.
USA - Nevada. Paul Browning becomes the 168th person exonerated from death row.
- JANUARY 24, 2020CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Israel Ramirez Guardado sentenced to death
USA - California. Israel Ramirez Guardado sentenced to death
JANUARY 23, 2020IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN AWARDED DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPING, KILLING OWN MENTALLY UNSOUND DAUGHTER
A special court in Kota (Rajasthan) awarded death penalty to a 45-year-old man for repeatedly raping and impregnating his 17-year-old mentally unsound daughter before killing her, PTI reported on 21 January 2020.
JANUARY 23, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 22-YEAR-OLD MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KANO
A Kano State High Court sitting on 20 January 2020 sentenced 22-year-old Ibrahim Suleiman to death by hanging for killing a 5-year-old girl.
JANUARY 23, 2020BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING OF BUSINESSMAN IN BRAHMANBARIA
A Brahmanbaria court on 6 January 2020 sentenced four people to death for killing a businessman from Old Dhaka in 2014.
- JANUARY 23, 2020FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. Supreme Court Reinstates Non-Unanimous Death Sentence.
USA - Florida. Supreme Court Reinstates Non-Unanimous Death Sentence.
JANUARY 22, 2020BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 5 EX-COPS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING
A Bangladesh court sentenced five former police officials to death on 20 January 2020 for opening fire on a motorcade of then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina 31 years ago, killing 24 of her supporters during an anti-government rally.
JANUARY 21, 2020BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 10 ISLAMISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 2001 BOMBING
A Bangladeshi court sentenced 10 Islamic militants to death on 20 January 2020 for the bombing at communist party rally two decades ago that killed five people.
- JANUARY 21, 2020CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Judge Michael A. Smith sentenced Charles Merritt to death.
USA - California. Judge Michael A. Smith sentenced Charles Merritt to death.
JANUARY 19, 2020TunisiaDEATH PENALTYTUNISIA: EIGHT SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER BOMBING THAT KILLED 12 PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS
A Tunisian court on 17 January 2020 sentenced eight people to death over a suicide bombing that targeted a presidential security bus in the capital Tunis in November 2015.
JANUARY 17, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SUPREME COURT ORDERS RETRIAL OF EGYPTIAN ENGINEER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has ordered the retrial of Egyptian engineer Ali Abul-Qasim, who has been sentenced to death for smuggling and trafficking drugs in the kingdom, Ahram Online reported on 15 January 2020.
JANUARY 17, 2020TennesseeDEATH PENALTYUSA - Tennessee. Correction Officials Ask for Clemency for Nick Sutton.
USA - Tennessee. Correction Officials Ask for Clemency for Nick Sutton.
- JANUARY 16, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
THE EU STRONGLY OPPOSES EXECUTION OF INMATES IN SOMALILAND PRISONS
The European Union Ambassador of Somalia Nicolas Berlanga firmly expressed opposition over death penalty after police carried out the execution of six inmates in Mandera Prison near Berbera on 15 January 2020 morning.
- JANUARY 16, 2020EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT ORDERS RETRIAL OF MONKS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BISHOP'S MURDER
Egypt's highest civilian court on 15 January 2020 ordered a retrial of two monks sentenced to death for murdering a bishop at a Coptic Christian monastery.
JANUARY 14, 2020BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: SC UPHOLDS QAISAR’S DEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Court on 14 January 2020 upheld the death sentence of Jatiya Party leader Syed Mohammad Qaisar for his crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Liberation War of the country in 1971.
- JANUARY 14, 2020FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. David Snelgrove resentenced to life without parole
USA - Florida. David Snelgrove resentenced to life without parole
JANUARY 13, 2020IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER OF MINOR IN UP
A special POCSO court in Bareilly, in the indian State of Uttar Pradesh, on 9 January 2020 sentenced to death the two accused of rape and murder of a minor in January 2016.
JANUARY 12, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: FIRST DEATH PENALTIES OF 2020 HANDED DOWN
The Mogilev Regional Court sentenced two brothers, who were found guilty of committing a murder in a particularly violent manner, to the death penalty on 10 January 2020, the Human Rights Center Viasna said.
JANUARY 10, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: OFFICER HANDED DEATH SENTENCE IN PUNTLAND, TO RECEIVE 67 CAMELS FROM STATE FOR HARM
A military court of appeal in Puntland on 6 January 2020 upheld the ruling of a lower court which sentenced to death a military officer who killed his boss at Bosaso port but ordered the government compensate the defendant for injuries suffered during his