[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----FLORIDA
August 22 FLORIDAexecution Serial killer who preyed on gay men executed at Florida State Prison Gary Ray Bowles, a serial killer who preyed on older gay men during an 8-month spree that left six dead, was executed by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison. The sentence was carried out at 10:58 p.m., according to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bowles, 57, has been on death row since his conviction for killing Walter Hinton, a 47-year-old Jacksonville Beach man whom Bowles had befriended. Hinton was 1 of 6 known victims of the man who came to be known as the "I-95 Killer." That year, a half-dozen men in 3 states were killed not far from the East Coast's most heavily traveled interstate. Bowles was eventually convicted of 2 other murders in Florida, but the Duval County jury is the only one that sentenced him to death. William HintonThat sentence for the murder of Hinton (pictured, left) was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court in 1998, saying prosecutors were wrong to introduce evidence of Bowles' homophobia, but a second jury the following year also recommended a death sentence. Bowles' eight-month homicidal binge started in Daytona Beach in 1994 and ended with his arrest after killing Hinton, who Bowles convicted to take him in. That was Bowles' method of operation, according to police and prosecutors. Bowles would meet men in gay bars and offer to perform household chores and sex acts in exchange for a place to stay. After Bowles' arrest in Jacksonville, police say he admitted to the murders of five other gay men -- three in Florida, two in Georgia and one in Maryland. Bowles arrest by JSOIn every case, the murders were brutally violent and he left the victims with a towel or toilet paper crammed down their throats. Among Bowles' victims was 37-year-old Albert Morris, of Hilliard. "He needs to be punished and I think he needs to have his life taken just like he took all these other peoples' lives," Morris' mother told WJXT in 1994 while Bowles was still on the run. Bowles was able to stay one step ahead of police after each murder, leading to him being profiled five times on "America's Most Wanted" and added to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. At one point, Bowles said in a television interview how remarkably easy it was to kill someone. Gary Ray Bowles' killing spree •March 14, 1994 - John Hardy Roberts - Daytona Beach •April 4, 1994 - David Jarman - Rockville, Maryland •May 5, 1994 - Milton Bradley - Savannah •May, 1994 - Alverson Carter Jr. - Atlanta •May 18, 1994 - Albert Morris - Hilliard •Nov. 16, 1994 - Walter Hinton - Jacksonville Beach "It's sadistic in the manner in which he committed these murders," said Bernie de la Rionda, who was an assistant state attorney in Jacksonville at the time. "I just have a basic concept as a prosecutor that there is good and evil in the world, and Mr. Bowles is the classic evil out there, and thank God he was arrested. I am firmly convinced he would have continued to kill if he had not been caught." Shortly after he was arrested, members of the gay community called for his eventual execution. Bowles was eventually convicted in Morris' murder and sentenced to life in prison. He received the death penalty for Hinton's murder. De la Rionda is among those scheduled to witness Bowles' execution and said he'll be on the front row in the death chamber because Hilton's family members cannot. "In this case, the victim's sister and the victim's mother are both deceased, and that's part of the tragedy -- that it has taken so long to get where we are at," de la Rionda said. "And so I will be there representing them and Mr. Hinton, I will be there representing the victim." Several appeals by Bowles' attorneys have been died, including one to the Florida Supreme Court earlier this week. Opponents of the death penalty, including Ingrid Delgado, were still hoping the governor would stay the execution. "Gary Bowles was a victim of crime and then became a perpetrator of crime, but we don't have to continue perpetuating that cycle of violence," Delgado said. "Society can continue to be kept safe through lifelong incarceration." Just after 3 p.m., prison officials said Bowles was in good spirits and had a last meal. No family members or spiritual advisor visited Bowles on Thursday. Bowles becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death in Florida this year and the 99th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1979. Only Texas (562), Virginia (113), and Oklahoma (112) have carried out more executions since the death penalty was re-legalized in the USA on July 2, 1976. As of Thursday afternoon, there are 339 men and three women on death row in Florida. Bowles becomes the 13th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1,503rd overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977. (sources: news4jax.com &
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----FLORIDA
AUGUST 22 FLORIDAimpending execution Florida serial killer’s execution delayed, waiting appeals ruling The scheduled execution of a Florida serial killer who targeted older gay men awaited a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on his final appeals. The high court was mulling a last-ditch appeal Thursday from 57-year-old Gary Ray Bowles, whose lawyers contended he is too intellectually disabled to be executed. Bowles was set to die by lethal injection at the Florida State prison in Starke. The execution was scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday but was delayed while the Supreme Court considered his case. Bowles was condemned for the murder of Walter Hinton in Jacksonville Beach – one of the killings that terrorized the East Coast’s Interstate 95 corridor in an eight-month span in 1994. Hinton was Bowles’ sixth and final known victim in a spree that began in Daytona Beach with the slaying of John Hardy Roberts. In between, there were victims in Rockville, Maryland; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta and Nassau County, Florida. (source: Associated Press) ___ A service courtesy of Washburn University School of Law www.washburnlaw.edu DeathPenalty mailing list DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty Unsubscribe: http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/options/deathpenalty
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, TENN., MO., OKLA., WYO., USA
August 22 OHIO: Ohio's Republican House speaker says he's 'less and less supportive' of the death penalty Amid concerns about finding a constitutional execution drug, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder says he's "less and less supportive" of the death penalty. "I'm probably like most Ohioans. There was a time that I was extremely supportive of the death penalty," Householder told reporters Tuesday. "But as time's gone on, I've become less and less supportive." Householder cited the high cost of executing death row inmates and the inability to find execution drugs as 2 reasons for his shifting support. The cost of the death penalty is about $3 million per inmate when you factor in appeals and court battles, a 2016 Susquehanna University study found. "It's just becoming more and more difficult to do and it's more and more expensive," he said. Ohio's executions are on hold while prison officials come up with an option that passes constitutional muster. So far, nothing has been proposed. Householder, along with Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, will control how the debate on the future of the death penalty moves forward. Right now, Householder said he's waiting on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for a viable solution to execute prisoners. What isn't a solution? A recent proposal from Rep. Scott Wiggam, R-Wooster, to use fentanyl seized from police in state executions. Householder agreed with DeWine and addiction professionals that the proposal is problematic. "I felt that I might have some issues with that constitutionally," Householder said. "I don't know that you can take a drug that's been seized in an illegal seizure and use that." (source: cincinnati.com) * Canton man waiting 35 years for execution of dad’s killer‘It would be like the end of a chapter going back to when I was a little kid,’ Matt Rowan says of execution of his father’s killer. Matt Rowan walked up to the gravesite of the father he never knew. Standing at his tombstone, the 41-year-old Canton man didn’t reflect on memories of his dad, Herbert M. Rowan III. The son doesn’t have any, and most photos of him were lost in a fire. The elder Rowan was murdered in 1984, when Matt was 6. All that’s left for Rowan are his mother’s stories about his dad. Most tangible is the grave marker he visits at Forest Hill Cemetery, inscribed with his father’s name, the identical dates of his birth and death and a notation for his service in the U.S. Navy. It’s just hard not knowing who your dad was and what he looked like,” Rowan said. He lost that opportunity when David A. Sneed robbed and shot Herbert Rowan, then 26, in the fall of 1984 before ordering his accomplice to shoot Rowan in the head a 2nd time. The weighted body was dumped over a bridge into Nimishillen Creek. Sneed was convicted in 1986 of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in Rowan’s death. Roughly 35 years later, the son seeks what he hopes is a degree of closure: Sneed’s execution. “It would be like the end of a chapter going back to when I was a little kid,” he said while standing in the the cemetery on an overcast morning recently. But he says the planned execution has brought him only more frustration. Sneed, 57, had been scheduled to die a year ago before it was delayed. He’s now set for execution Dec. 9, 2020, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The son expects another postponement. “Every time I get my hopes up ... it gets pushed to the back-burner again, and it’s going to keep getting pushed back.” Fred Scott, a Stark County assistant prosecutor, agrees. “The (execution) date is meaningless,” he said. “Everybody’s in a holding pattern until the legislature approves either a protocol for the drugs (used for lethal injection) or a new method,” said Scott, who heads the criminal division of the prosecutor’s office. Ohio’s last execution, of Robert Van Hook, occurred in July 2018. There are 24 inmates scheduled for execution through 2024, according to state records. Besides Sneed, four other Stark County defendants are on death row: John Gillard, Edward Lang III, Michael D. Scott and James Mammone. Only Sneed has an execution date, and a Stark County defendant hasn’t been executed for 65 years. Gillard was convicted in 1985, one year earlier than Sneed. Scott was convicted in 2000; Lang, 2007; and Mammone, 2010. Scott, citing the uncertainty of the death penalty in Ohio, said the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office hasn’t requested an execution date for Scott, even though he has gone through the state and federal appeals process. Death penalty in limbo Ohio’s inability to obtain drugs for lethal injection has delayed scheduled executions, Gov. Mike DeWine said last month. The Republican said state prison officials are finding it impossible to line up any company willing to supply drugs for a new lethal-injection method to
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
August 22 SRI LANKA: EU repeats opposition to Sri Lanka resuming executions The European Union has said it is opposed to Sri Lanka reviving executions of convicts and called on the government to maintain its moratorium on implementing the death penalty. The EU’s position was conveyed during a meeting with a group of parliamentarians of the United National Party, the major partner in the coalition government. “During the meeting, the Heads of Missions restated the strong and unequivocal opposition of the EU and its Member States to capital punishment in all circumstances and in all cases,” a statement said. “The HoMs reiterated their call to Sri Lanka to maintain its moratorium on the death penalty with a view towards complete abolition.” The EU delegation in the island issued the statement in agreement with the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and the UK High Commission. The revival of the death penalty was mooted by President Maithripala Sirisena, who is from a different party, and says executions could be a deterrent against drug trafficking. (source: economynext.com) *** Death sentence imposed on drug trafficker A man accused of being involved in the trafficking and possession of heroin, was today sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court. The accused from Mattakkuliya had been arrested with 22.54 grams of heroin. (source: Colombo Gazette) MALAYSIA: Man charged with murder over Bangi road rage incident The 41-year-old man involved in a road rage incident near Bandar Baru Bangi earlier this month which led to the death of Syed Muhammad Danial Syed Syakir was charged with murder at the Kajang Magistrate’s Court here today. The charge against IT consultant Yew Wei Liang was made under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty. No bail was allowed. Defence counsel S Selvam argued that his client should instead be charged under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987, which deals with death during road accidents. The defence also claimed that Yew was abused during remand and had to be taken to Kajang Hospital on Aug 13, adding that he had been forced into giving a confession. Defence lawyer Varghese Onny also said the evidence could have been tampered with as calls were made from the phone of Yew’s wife, who was also remanded. “The phone should be under police possession during the probe,” he said. The court fixed Sept 27 for mention and to hear complaints by the defence lawyers. Magistrate Nor Afidah Idris also ordered for Yew to be remanded at the Sungai Buloh prison. In the incident on Aug 10, Syed Danial, 29, died following an altercation with the driver of another car over a minor accident just after the Sungai Besi toll plaza. The 2 drivers got involved in a car chase and a scuffle ensued between them at the Bandar Baru Bangi interchange. Witnesses at the scene broke up the fight and the 2 drivers returned to their vehicles. The younger man then got out of his vehicle with a baseball bat and smashed the other car’s bonnet. The older driver was believed to have suddenly lurched his vehicle forward, hitting the victim. Syed Danial was pinned between the car and the road divider. He was rushed to the Nilai Medical Centre but died while receiving treatment (source: freemalaysiatoday.com) INDIA: Tripura court sentences man to death for rape and murder of minor The case was registered at Kadamtala police station in North Tripura on September 27, 2018 and a chargesheet was submitted to the court on March 24 this year. After 5 months of trial, the accused has been found guilty A Tripura court sentenced a 26-year old youth to death for the rape and murder of a minor in North Tripura district. Special Judge Goutam Sarkar convicted Sanju Tanti, alias Sanju, and sentenced him to death, in the first-ever case of capital punishment for crimes tried under POSCO Act in Tripura, Tripura POSCO Act, rape and murder of minor, tripura minor raped and murder, agartala city news. The amended law now has provisions for strict punishment for other crimes committed against minors too. A Tripura court sentenced a 26-year old youth to death for the rape and murder of a minor in North Tripura district. Special Judge Goutam Sarkar convicted Sanju Tanti, alias Sanju, and sentenced him to death, in the 1st-ever case of capital punishment for crimes tried under POSCO Act in Tripura since the central government approved amendments to strengthen it in July this year by including death penalty for aggravated sexual assaults on children. The amended law now has provisions for strict punishment for other crimes committed against minors too. North Tripura Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty, in a press statement, said: “On 21-08-2019, the Ld. Special Judge, North Tripura, Dharmanagar (Sri Goutam Sarkar) convicted one accused
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, PENN., FLA., ALA., MISS., LA.
August 22 TEXAS:execution Texas death row inmate Larry Ray Swearingen maintains innocence until his execution A Texas death row inmate continued to maintain his innocence up until he was executed Wednesday. Larry Ray Swearingen was executed at 6:47 p.m. for the death of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter. "Lord forgive them. They don't know what they are doing," he said in his last words. Swearingen was sentenced to death in July 2000 for Trotter's abduction, rape and murder. The Montgomery College student was last seen alive on December 8, 1998. Her body was found in the Sam Houston National Forest on January 2, 1999, with a torn pair of pantyhose tied around her neck. Swearingen repeatedly challenged his conviction and sentence over the years, and his execution was postponed 5 times. Over the years, he argued that the case against him was built on circumstantial evidence and questionable forensics. Prosecutors contended that Swearingen killed Trotter after she rejected his sexual advances. Witnesses testified they saw Trotter leave campus with Swearingen on December 8, according to court documents. The state also pointed to the fact that Swearingen's wife found a lighter and a pack of cigarettes matching Trotter's preferred brand in the couple's trailer, although they did not smoke, and a detective found a pair of pantyhose in the trash outside the trailer with one leg missing. In a prepared statement his lawyer released after his death, Swearingen said he had proved his "innocence beyond any shadow of doubt," although it was not enough to stop his execution. "Today the State of Texas murdered an innocent man. Sadly, so many people have suffered from all this. Melissa's family and friends were denied the opportunity for closure. My family was torn apart," the statement said. "I want everyone to know I'm not angry about my execution. Sure I would've liked to live and go free. But I feel certain that my death can be a catalyst to change the insane legal system of Texas which could allow this to happen. I am now one of God's sacrificial lambs, and hopefully people will use my example to help keep others from experiencing this dreadful and wrongful persecution." One last appeal The week before his execution, Swearingen requested another stay based on two claims, according to court documents. He argued that the state allowed "false and misleading" trial testimony regarding blood flecks found under Trotter's fingernails. He also claimed the state knew that a criminologist had "manufactured" evidence that the torn pantyhose used to strangle Trotter matched pantyhose found at Swearingen's house. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied his request on August 16, saying the evidence he presented to support his claims was not strong enough to have made a difference to the outcome of his trial. On Wednesday night, the Supreme Court turned down Swearingen's final appeal. Swearingen nevertheless continued to maintain his innocence in an interview with the Houston Chronicle published Wednesday, and questioned if his scheduled execution would come to pass. But the slain teen's mother told the Chronicle she is still convinced of his guilt. "The overwhelming evidence is not just a coincidence," Sandy Trotter said. "There was a trial; he was found guilty, and they agreed on a sentence." (source: CNN) Today the State of Texas murdered an innocent man. Many people participated in my demise, beginning with the Montgomery County police who falsely arrested me without a warrant and particularly officer Leo Mock who planted the pantyhose in my home that was used to convict me. Harris County medical examiner Joye Carter then lied about the length of time Melissa Trotter's corpse laid in the woods. Judge Fred Edwards and the Montgomery County district attorney's office refused to give me a fair shake in legal proceedings, while the Houston Chronicle with other local media shared the same lack of fair play when it came to the court of public opinion. The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals rejected my filings without even looking at them, and finally governor Greg Abbott pulled the trigger. I also have to include myself in this accounting. Not because I had anything to do with Melissa's murder. She was my friend. But in my youth, I made a lot of stupid mistakes. When I was abducted by Montgomery County police in December 1998, I had been driving a stolen vehicle and was trying to commit insurance fraud. I was philandering with Melissa and other women instead of taking care of my wife and kids. I had been violent with both women and men. I put myself in a perfect position to be framed for murder. Sadly, so many people have suffered from all this. Melissa's family and friends were denied the opportunity for closure. My family was torn apart. My mother was ostracized and harassed to the point she had to
