[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
July 21 IRANexecutions 4 Prisoners Hanged in One Day at 1 Prison 4 prisoners were hanged in 1 day at the Iranian city of Karaj’s Rajai-Shahr prison. According to IHR sources, on the morning of Wednesday, July 17, 4 prisoners were executed at Rajai-Shahr prison. One of them, Ali (Known as Ali Lavashak) was sentenced to death for rape charges. 3 others who were sentenced to death for murder charges are identified as Yousef Gholizadeh, Hadi Asef and Akbar Sabbaghzadeh. From July 14 to July 17, in 3 days, at least 10 prisoners were hanged in different Iranian prisons or in Public. At least 110 people were executed in Iran in the 1st half of 2019; Only 37 of the executions have been announced by authorities or Iranian media. Iran Human Rights (IHR) could confirm 73 more through its sources. IHR only reports the unannounced executions if it could confirm those with 2 separate credible sources. Therefore, the actual number of executions may be even higher than reported. ** 3 Men Hanged at Minab Prison 3 men were hanged for murder charges at the southern Iranian city of Minab last Sunday. According to IHR sources, on Sunday, June 14, three men were hanged at Minab prison for murder charges. IHR could identify them as Ali Karimi, Mohammad Parvaei and Amirali Shadabi. “Amirali Shadabi killed a person during a gang fight. 2 others committed murder during fights for financial reasons,” a well-informed source told IHR. None of the aforementioned executions was announced by the Iranian authorities so far. (source for both: Iran Human Rights) THAILAND: Thai murderer is sentenced to death for killing a German backpacker after raping her A Thai man who raped and murdered a German backpacker has been sentenced to death. Ronnakorn Romruen, 24, attacked Miriam Beelte, 26, as she visited a historic stone monument on the island of Koh Si Chang, eastern Thailand, on April 7. He then raped her before battering her head with a rock to kill her and stop her reporting the attack. Ronnakorn then concealed her body below leaves on a secluded hillside. Locals found her body that same day. Later that evening police arrested the local beach cleaner and he subsequently admitted to raping and killing the woman from Hildesheim, Germany. Ronnakorn has been in custody since the murder took place 3 months ago. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to death on Wednesday because the ‘crime was so severe a reduced sentence was not possible’. The judgment released from Chonburi Provincial Court read: ‘Ronnakorn Romruen was guilty of raping (14 years in jail), murdering to conceal the crime (death penalty), drug taking and driving (eight months in jail), concealing the death of a person (1 year in jail). It said because he confessed during the arrest, the court would mitigate the penalty by half for the charges related to rape, taking of methamphetamine, drunk driving and concealing the death of a person. ‘But the overall crime is so severe that the defendant deserves to die and the punishment of the death penalty will stay in place for the charge of murdering to conceal a crime for which there is no mitigation.’ CCTV showed how Ronnakorn had followed Ms Beelte up the hill of the ancient stone monument while pestering her to sleep with him. When she rejected his advances, the drug-crazed killer pinned her to the ground and raped her. He later told police that after she struggled free, he chased after her and battered her face with a rock until she was dead because he didn’t want her to report the attack. Ronnakorn then hid her body behind rocks and covered it with leaves. Officers said that Ronnakorn confessed to murder after 4 hours of interrogation and he was taken back to his shabby wooden home in the early hours of the morning to re-enact parts of the crime. After killing the single holidaymaker, he calmly watched TV while smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. Ronnakorn’s mother, Nongluck Phosang, 43, had previously called on prosecutors to hand down the death penalty to her son. She said: ‘My son and I didn’t live together, so I didn’t know much about what he usually did in the day. I only knew that he worked on a boat and collected rubbish from the beaches. ‘He is a quiet guy who doesn’t talk much. He likes to stay alone at home watching TV and listening to music, just like most of the guys. ‘I deeply apologise to the girl’s family on behalf of my son. I never thought that he could do anything like this. ‘He deserves the full lawful punishment and I am willing to accept the judge’s decision.’ Ronnakorn has one month in which to appeal the sentence before he is put on death row. (source: brinkwire.com) INDIA: Family members of Sonbhadra victims demand money, land and death sentence for perpetrators of massacre Ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit to
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., TENN., OKLA.
July 21 TEXASimpending executions Dexter Darnell Johnson's execution is scheduled to occur at 6 pm CDT, on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. 31-year-old Dexter is convicted of the murder of 23-year-old Maria Aparece and 17-year-old Huy Ngo on June 18, 2006, in Houston, Texas. Dexter has spent the last 11 years of his life on Texas’ death row. Dexter was born and raised in Texas. He dropped out of school following the 9th grade. During the early morning hours of June 18, 2006, Dexter Johnson and 4 of his friends, Ashley Ervin, Louis Ervin, Keithron Fields, and Timothy Randle, were driving around in Ashley’s car, looking for someone to rob. The group discovered Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo siting in Maria’s vehicle on the street. Johnson took a shot gun and stood outside the driver’s side door, threatening to shoot Maria if she did not cooperate. Johnson demanded she open the door, and when she did, he threw her into the back seat and sat in the driver’s seat. Fields, who was out side the passenger side door, threw Huy into the back seat with Maria, and sat in the front seat on the passenger side. Louis sat in the back. Ashley and Randle followed in Ashely’s car. Johnson demanded money from Maria and Huy. Eventually, Johnson pulled over into a wooded area and forced Huy from the car. Johnson then raped Maria, while Fields forced Huy to listen and taunted him. Maria and Huy were then marched into the woods, by Johnson and Fields, where they were shot and killed. Over the next several days, Johnson used Maria’s credit card several times. On June 21, 2006, Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was quickly linked by police to the disappearance of Maria and Huy. Police were able to obtain security footage from a Wal-Mart, where Maria’s credit card was used after she went missing. During his trial, testimony was presented that showed Johnson was the leader of a gang. Johnson is also believed to be connected to several other murders. Following his sentencing, Johnson threw a chair in courtroom, resulting in him being forcibly restrained and escorted out of the courtroom by several sheriff’s deputies. Ashley Ervin is currently serving a prison sentence and is eligible for parole in 2046. Keithron Fields has been sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Timothy Randle is currently serving a 25 years in prison. Louis Ervin was a juvenile at the time of the crime. Dexter Johnson was previously scheduled to be executed on Thursday, May 2, 2019. That execution was stayed by a Federal court. Dexter wrote to the federal court shortly after being given his May 2, execution date, complaining about his attorney, who has been on his case for years. The court appointed a 2nd legal team to investigate the claims, while allowing the 1st attorney to remain on the case. The 2nd legal team has now claimed that the 1st attorney “violated ethical and professional duties throughout his representation.” Based on these concerns, the federal court halted Dexter's execution. Dexter's 1st attorney has since voluntarily removed himself from the case. Please pray for peace and healing for the families of the Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo. Please pray for strength for the family of Dexter Johnson. Please pray that if Dexter is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be presented prior to his execution. Please pray that Dexter will come to find peace through personal relationship with the Lord, if he has not already. ** Larry Ray Swearingen is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CST, on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. 48-year-old Larry is convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter on December 8, 1998, in Montgomery County, Texas. Larry has spent the last 19 years of his life on Texas’ death row. Larry was born in Montgomery County, Texas on May 21, 1971. He attended school through the 11th grade. Larry worked as an electrician/mechanic until his arrest. Larry had 1 prior conviction for burglary of a building, for which he received probation. After his arrest for murder, the probation was revoked and he was given a 2-year sentence. Melissa Trotter was a student at Montgomery College in Conroe, Texas. She met Swearingen in the beginning of December 1998. On December 8, 1998, Melissa and Swearingen were observed together in the library. They were seen leaving the campus together by her biology professor, who later identified the man with Melissa as Swearingen. After leaving campus that day, Melissa was never seen or heard from again. On January 2, 1999, her partially nude body was found by two hunters in the Sam Houston National Forest. On December 11, 1998,
