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, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTY
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2020SudanDEATH PENALTY
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
- JANUARY 1, 2020Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
- JANUARY 1, 2020SingaporeDEATH 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, 2020Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- JANUARY 1, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2020UgandaDEATH PENALTY
Uganda’s penal code provides for 15 capital offences
Uganda’s penal code provides for 15 capital offences
- JANUARY 1, 2020United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
DECEMBER 31, 2019ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DEATH PENALTY UPHELD FOR GANG LEADER IN RAPE CASES
Twenty-one years after being sentenced to death for rapes and other crimes, Sun Xiaoguo had his death penalty upheld by the Yunnan High People's Court on 23 December 2019.
DECEMBER 31, 2019VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 6 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPING, KILLING STUDENT
A court in north-western Vietnam on 29 December 2019 sentenced six men to death for raping and murdering 22-year-old student Cao My Duyen in a case that shocked the country earlier this year.
DECEMBER 30, 2019SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: 27 INTELLIGENCE AGENTS SENTENCED TO HANG FOR TEACHER'S KILLING
A Sudanese court sentenced 27 members of the national intelligence service to death by hanging on 30 December 2019 over the killing of a teacher in detention in February during protests that led to the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir.
DECEMBER 30, 2019Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: RIYADH CONCERT STABBER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Saudi Arabian court on 29 December 2019 sentenced to death a man accused of stabbing three performers at a live show in the capital Riyadh in November, state television said.
DECEMBER 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kurd political prisoner Houshmand Alipour sentenced to death
IRAN - Kurd political prisoner Houshmand Alipour sentenced to death
DECEMBER 24, 2019PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: PROFESSOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY
A Pakistani court on 21 December 2019 sentenced a university professor to death for blasphemy under a law that critics say is often used to target minorities and liberal activists.
- DECEMBER 18, 2019Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: 5 MEN SENTENCED TO HANG FOR MURDER
Five death sentences were read out on 17 December 2019 to the five men convicted of the murder of businessman Dr Eddie Koury in September 2005.
DECEMBER 18, 2019PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: EX PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF SENTENCED TO DEATH BY SPECIAL COURT FOR HIGH TREASON
Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was on 17 December 2019 sentenced to death for high treason by a special court. He is the first former military ruler to have been tried and convicted for treason.
- DECEMBER 17, 2019DEATH PENALTY
KENTUCKY (USA): BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN COMMUTES THE SENTENCES OF TWO DEATH-ROW PRISONERS
In his last series of acts before leaving office, outgoing Governor Matt Bevin has commuted the sentences of two of the state’s longest serving death-row prisoners to life with the possibility of parole.
- DECEMBER 17, 2019ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: WITCH DOCTOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING CLIENT
Lusaka Judge Mwila Chitabo has sentenced to death a witch doctor from Paramount Chief Mpezeni area in Chipata for brutally murdering his client, Zambia Reports reported on 13 December 2019.
DECEMBER 17, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR HEROIN PEDDLER
A youth was sentenced to death on 13 December 2019 by the Colombo High Court after being found guilty for possessing and peddling 25.77grams of heroin.
- DECEMBER 17, 2019PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: MAN HANDED 3 DEATH SENTENCES IN CHUNIAN RAPE, MURDER CASE
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on 17 December 2019 convicted Sohail Shahzad for kidnapping, raping and murdering a minor boy in Chunian and handed him the death sentences on three counts.
DECEMBER 16, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EX-POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2017 MURDER OF WIFE, 2 KIDS
A court sentenced a former policeman to death on 13 December 2019 for choking his wife and two children to death at their home in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in June 2017.
DECEMBER 16, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Colombo High Court sentenced to death two accused after they were found guilty of hacking to death a 17-year-old boy in 2001, News First reported on 12 December 2019.
DECEMBER 16, 2019MississippiDEATH PENALTYUSA - Mississippi. Judge Frees Curtis Flowers on Bail
USA - Mississippi. Judge Frees Curtis Flowers on Bail
- DECEMBER 15, 2019United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Death Penalty in 2019: A Year of Incredible Progress, Marred by Unconscionable Executions.
USA - The Death Penalty in 2019: A Year of Incredible Progress, Marred by Unconscionable Executions.
- DECEMBER 13, 2019DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): TRAVIS TREVINO RUNNELS EXECUTED
Travis Trevino Runnels, 46, Black, was executed on December 11, 2019 in Texas.
DECEMBER 13, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DRUG TRAFFICKER KALU THUSHARA SENTENCED TO DEATH
Drug trafficker “Kalu Thushara” was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 10 December 2019.
- DECEMBER 13, 2019LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. At retrial, Rogers LaCaze sentenced to life without parole
USA - Louisiana. At retrial, Rogers LaCaze sentenced to life without parole
DECEMBER 11, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: SUPREME COURT EXTENDS STAY ORDER AGAINST IMPLEMENTING DEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on 9 December 2019 extended the interim order staying the implementation of the death penalty on the prisoners who were sentenced to death for drug offenses until 20 March.
DECEMBER 11, 2019TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Travis Trevino Runnels, 46, Black, was executed.
USA - Texas. Travis Trevino Runnels, 46, Black, was executed.