[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, FLA., ALA., OHIO, MO.
May 23 TEXASimpending execution U.S. court denies motion to halt execution of long-serving Texas inmate A federal appeals court has denied an application to halt the June execution of Lester Bower, one of the longest-serving inmates on death row in Texas, for killing 4 men at an airport hangar in 1983. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday denied a petition from Bower's lawyers, who said his planned execution on June 3 should be halted on grounds that his previous sentencing did not match U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Bower, 67, who has been imprisoned for more than 30 years, is set to be executed by injection at the state's death chamber in Huntsville. His lawyers have tried for more than 2 decades to have his conviction thrown out, saying he was found guilty due to faulty witness testimony. Bower has denied being at the hangar where the murders took place but authorities said aircraft parts found in his home and other evidence implicated him in the crimes. In March, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal filed by lawyers for Bower, who argued that three decades on death row amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. According to Bower's court filings, he has faced imminent execution on 6 occasions during his time in prison. Bower was convicted of fatally shooting building contractor Bob Tate, former police officer Ronald Mayes, sheriff's deputy Philip Good and interior designer Jerry Brown, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said. Bower killed Tate to steal an ultralight airplane Tate was selling and then killed the other 3 when they unexpectedly showed up at the hangar, it said. (source: Reuters) * Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present7 Executions in Texas: Dec. 7, 1982present-525 Abbott#scheduled execution date-nameTx. # 8--June 3Les Bower526 9---June 18--Gregory Russeau--527 10-August 12Daniel Lopez--528 11-August 26Bernardo Tercero--529 12-October 6Juan Garcia---530 (sources: TDCJ Rick Halperin) FLORIDA: Jury Recommends Death Penalty in Barry Davis CaseThe jury in the Barry Davis case has recommended to the court that he face the death penalty. Davis was found guilty Monday on 2 counts of 1st degree murder in the deaths of John Gregory Hughes and Hiedi Rhodes in May 2012. The jury only deliberated for an hour Friday, but during the penalty phase, head injuries have been the topic of discussion the last 3 days. After an hour of deliberating, the jury in the Barry Davis case recommended to the court that he face the death penalty for the murders of John Gregory Hughes and Hiedi Rhodes. A Spencer Hearing, which is an opportunity for the defendant's lawyers to present additional evidence to the judge before a sentence is entered, will take place at a later date. 3 final witnesses testified Friday to wrap up the month-long trial of Barry Davis. For the last 3 days, traumatic brain injuries have been the topic of discussion. The defense brought in a number of witnesses both in the clinical psychology and neuropathology fields Thursday. They testified that head injuries Davis sustained as a child from activities like football could have impacted his judgment as an adult. 1 clinical psychologist, a witness for the state, says otherwise. He has no medical health treatment historically, no contact with psychologists or psychiatrists, no medications so for me that suggests there was not recognized as to any major mental health issues in his lifetime, said Dr. Greg Prichard. The Defense Attorney's witnesses also claimed the environment of where someone grows up, depression and anxiety, mixed with a brain injury can create a disturbed individual. Davis' sister testified Friday by phone and talked about the conditions of their father's home where she stayed one summer. My eyes were red, and drained, said Kieana Davis, as she described when she went to visit her father in California. And when we went back from visiting my father and we were sent back to my mom she was very upset, and our clothes were dirty and had not been washed. After his examination, Dr. Prichard stated Davis' act of killing John Gregory Hughes and Hiedi Rhodes was not due to a mental illness or any form of depression, but rather, The behaviors associated with the crimes reflect some characterlogical or personality issues, said Dr. Prichard. Davis could either receive life in prison without parole, or the death penalty. The jury is still discussing the fate of Davis. The judge however will make the final decision. (source: WJHG news) * Case of death row inmate in Atlantic Beach father and son's murders returns to Supreme Court It's
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----NEB., WYO., ORE., USA
May 23 NEBRASKA: Hi Friends, There is a poll in Nebraska we'd love your help with:??? http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Reaction-to-Death-Penalty-Repeal-Bill-Its-About-Time-304796131.html [www.1011now.com] It's on the right hand side of the article. Thanks! Colleen Cunningham, Equal Justice USA * Death penalty undignified Is there a compelling pay off in the repeal of our death penalty statute? I believe there is and a very significant one at that (Death penalty repeal passes Legislature, awaits veto, May 20). The time, energy and money invested in seeking to bring about an end to the tragedy of our killing one another by working to bring about yet another killing seems not only counterproductive, but an ugly way of doing and being with one another. Choosing the path of seeking restorative, rather than punitive justice guides us to ways of doing that upholds each person's inherent dignity and worth. This further ennobles us all with opportunities to be helpful, kind and caring as we work our way out of the mess and find ways to assist others in danger of getting caught up as participants in still more tragedy. As a closing thought I would ask that we give more thought to considering what Jesus would do and have us do in this matter for the good of all of us. Byron Peterson, Minatare (source: Letter to the Editor, Lincoln Journal Star) Murder Victim's Daughter Reacts to Death Penalty Repeal Bill Ashley Gage says she opposes the state's death penalty because the appeals process causes too much trauma and heartache for the families of victims. That includes her. In March, NTV News first spoke with Gage. She found her father murdered when she was just a teenager. Despite that, Gage still is opposed to the capital punishment. As an 18-year-old, finding my father really disrupted my life in a substantial way, and I didn't even have to go through a capital trial, Gage told NTV back in March. With the vote advancing to Governor Ricketts' desk this week, Gage now says she's cautiously optimistic. I had to kind of step away and let it sink in and really grasp that it came this far and passed. I'm still a little cautious because Ricketts has promised to veto the bill and I feel like I'm holding back a little bit, said Gage. Ricketts told NTV News this week that some of the families he's spoken with are in favor of the death penalty. Several weeks ago, I sat down with Attorney General Peterson and Director Frakes, who's in charge of our correction system, and told them they need to make it a priority for us to be able to carry out these executions, said Ricketts. It's important for justice and for some of the families I've talked to that have had loved ones killed by some of these heinous murderers. Gage says that contradicts what she's encountered. I'm not sure where he's getting that information or whom he's spoken to, but I'm in contact with three or four other victims' families and have met them through this process and we're all on the same page in that we don't want to go through this re-traumatization and this long process, said Gage. (source: nebraska.tv) ACLU questions acquisition of lethal injection drugs The state's recent purchase of lethal injection drugs that would allow it to resume executions in Nebraska will lead to costly litigation, ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Danielle Conrad said Friday. Conrad said information the ACLU received from the state Department of Correctional Services in response to an open records request led her to conclude that the state faces another round of costly and lengthy legal appeals with the taxpayer picking up the tab. (It) shows a shady foreign source approached the Department of Corrections and engineered a hasty deal, with no assurances from state officials as to fair price, ability to comply with the importation laws, or the efficacy of the drugs in question, Conrad said. This marks another sad chapter in the dark history of Nebraska's death penalty story. Nebraska's past attempts to obtain lethal injection drugs have been legally suspect and full of problems, including wasted taxpayer dollars and false promises. Their most recent effort is nothing more than deja vu all over again. Records show that Chris Harris, CEO of the India-based Harris Pharma LLP, contacted state officials April 14 to ask if they wanted a few thousand vials extra of sodium thiopental, one of three drugs used in lethal injections. Sodium thiopental renders the recipient unconscious. The message made its way to Corrections Director Scott Frakes, who told Harris in an April 15 email that he would like to connect as soon as possible. In fact, Taylor Gage, spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts, said documentation provided to the ACLU shows that the state legally purchased the necessary drugs to carry out the death
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
May 23 PAKISTANexecutions 4 convicts hanged in jails across Punjab 4 death row convicts were sent to the gallows in jails across Punjab early Saturday morning. A convict named Ehsaan was sentenced to death by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in 2002 for committing a murder. He was executed today at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Central Jail. His appeals against the sentence were previously rejected by the apex court and President Mamnoon, following which his death warrants were issued by the ATC 2 days ago. Separately, Mohammad Saleem - who was a resident of Faisalabad's Millat Colony - was sent to the gallows at Faisalabad Central Jail after his death warrants were issued by an ATC. Previously, his appeals against the conviction were rejected by President Mamnoon Hussain. He was sentenced to death by a sessions court in Faisalabad in 2004 for murdering his cousin. Meanwhile, a man named Abdul Ghaffar from Muzaffargarh was executed in Multan Central Jail for killing 3 individuals - including his wife in 1990. He was sentenced to death by a sessions court in Muzaffargarh. Last week, his death warrants were sent to the jail administration after which he was hanged today. A man named Wazir - resident of Mianwali - was hanged in Sahiwal Central Jail for committing a murder in Rajanpur in 1991 over a domestic dispute. In 1996, Wazir had been sentenced to death by a sessions judge in Rajanpur and his appeals were rejected by the top courts and President Mamnoon Hussain. The jail administration received Wazir's death warrants 3 days ago and he was hanged this morning. The ruling PML-N government had lifted the moratorium on the death penalty on Dec 17, 2014, in terrorism related cases in the wake of a Taliban attack at the Army Public School in Peshawar, which claimed 141 lives, most of them children. Later, the government completely reinstated capital punishment for all offences that entail the death penalty. The United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged the government to re-impose the moratorium on the death penalty. (source: Dawn) Court issues death warrants of 2 convicts District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Lahore on Friday issued death warrants of 2 prisoners convicted in different murder cases. The judge has ordered to hang prisoners Abdul Khaliq and Shahzad on May 27 at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The court passed the orders while accepting an application filed by Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent for the purpose. The superintendent had requested the court to issue death warrants of Abdul Khaliq and Shahzad as their mercy appeals had been rejected by President Mamnoon Hussain and Supreme Court of Pakistan. In 2002, a sessions court awarded death penalty to Abdul Khaliq in a murder case registered by Secretariat Police Station for killing Akramullah. Whereas another sessions court awarded death penalty to Muhammad Shahzad in a murder case registered by Allama Iqbal Town Police Station for killing Azam Khan. (source: Pakistan Today) KENYA: Ali Babitu Kololo Ali Babitu Kololo is a 35-year-old father of 2 young children from a marginalised tribe in northern Kenya. He was tortured into confessing that he led Somali kidnappers to a luxury island resort, where the kidnappers abducted a British woman and killed her husband. Despite strong evidence that he is innocent, Ali was sentenced to death in 2013. Ali was never accused of being involved in the murder or kidnap itself, but under Kenyan law, simply being present when the crime is committed is enough for a conviction for robbery with violence, which carries the mandatory death penalty. Following the attack in 2011, the hotel ordered staff and police to pick up anyone in the vicinity of the hotel as a suspect. Ali was arrested a few miles from the hotel. The British Metropolitan Police flew to Kenya the day after the kidnap to assist with the investigation. They reviewed the crime scene, interviewed witnesses and took forensic evidence. When arrested, Ali was beaten and tortured. Officers squeezed and twisted his genitals, leaving him with urinary incontinence. Under torture he allegedly confessed to leading the pirates to the camp under duress. He immediately recanted his confession afterwards, and has maintained his innocence throughout. Having funded and worked alongside the Kenyan police units, the British were no doubt well aware of their routine use of torture and mistreatment and Ali's own claims were widely reported in local and international press. But, without making any steps to investigate Ali's allegations of torture, the senior Met police officer relied on the statement provided by Ali under torture to help bolster the prosecution's case, giving evidence in court that his 2 statements were inconsistent. Aside from his 'confession,' the only other key evidence against Ali is a
