[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
July 12 SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka to reinstate death penalty in anti-drug war 'inspired' by Philippines' Duterte Sri Lanka is going to reinstate capital punishment for drug dealers who coordinate criminal activities from behind bars, as it draws inspiration from the brutal anti-drug campaign led by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. "From now on, we will hang drug offenders without commuting their death sentences," Rajitha Senaratne, government spokesman, announced on Wednesday. Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena has told the government, which earlier had unanimously backed the reinstatement of capital punishment, that he "was ready to sign the death warrants," the spokesman said. The last execution in Sri Lanka took place back in 1976 and since then all death sentences in the country have been commuted to life in prison as successive presidents refused to sign death warrants. "Although there are certain opinions regarding capital punishment in a Buddhist society, if a large number of criminal acts spread in such a society despite religious sermons, it will be necessary to take some timely actions to control crime," the President's Media Division cited Sirisena as saying. There are currently 19 drug offenders in Sri Lanka, whose death sentences had been commuted to life, Senaratne said, adding that some of them continue coordinating trafficking from detention. Earlier this week, 1 of those drug dealers organized the smuggling of over 100 kilograms of heroin into the country. The government spokesman has called the uncompromising war on drugs led by Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines an example for Sri Lanka, saying that Colombo will also be using the military to curb trafficking. "We were told that the Philippines has been successful in deploying the army and dealing with this problem. We will try to replicate their success," Senaratne promised, as cited by AFP. The Philippine authorities have acknowledged that 4,200 drug suspects, who were resisting law enforcement, were eliminated in the country since July 2016. But critics call the killings unlawful and claim that the death toll was far greater. Amnesty International has, meanwhile, said that Sri Lanka is heading in the "wrong direction" and urged the country to abandon its plans. "Sri Lanka has been a leader in the region, with an enviable record of shunning this cruel and irreversible punishment at a time when many other countries persisted with it," Dinushika Dissanayake, the watchdog's Deputy Director for South Asia, said in a statement. "By resuming executions after more than 40 years, Sri Lanka will do immense damage to its reputation." (source: rt.com) * Amnesty urges Sri Lanka to withdraw death penalty plans Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Sri Lanka to withdraw its plans to implement the death penalty for drug trafficking offences. This week the country's ministry of Buddhasasana announced that the cabinet had decided to implement it, and to include 19 prisoners currently on death row. "By resuming executions after more than 40 years, Sri Lanka will do immense damage to its reputation. The government must immediately halt plans to carry out any executions, commute all death sentences, and establish an official moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty as a first step towards its full abolition," Amnesty International's South Asian Deputy Director Dinushika Dissanayake said. "Executing people for drug-related crimes is a violation of international law - which says the death penalty can only be imposed in countries that are yet to abolish it for the "most serious crimes". (source: Tamil Guardian) IRANexecutions 2 Executions in Northern Iran Followed by an Act of Revenge Last week 2 prisoners were secretly executed at Gorgan Prison on murder charges. 1 of the executions was followed by an act of revenge by the family of the prisoners on the victim's relatives. According to a close source, on the morning of Saturday, June 30, 2 prisoners were executed at Gorgan Prison. the prisoners were sentenced to death on murder charges. 1 of the prisoners was identified as Vahid who was convicted of murder during a street fight. On Thursday, July 5, Vahid's relatives invaded the plaintiffs' house in Ghal'e-Hasan and caused damage to their property on an act of revenge. On Friday, July 6, IRNA website mentioned the invasion of the prisoner's family and quoted colonel Mohammad Shirazi, Chief of Police, "Yesterday (Thursday) the murderer's family invaded the house of the victim's family with a group of people and set fire to their house and car." Many experts had earlier warned that implementation of Qisas leads to spread hate and hostility in a society. The execution of these prisoners has not been announced by the state-run media so far. According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, FLA., ALA., OHIO, TENN., ARK., UTAH, ARIZ., NEV.
July 12
TEXASimpending execution
Death Watch: Faith in ExecutionsReligious beliefs barred a potential juror
from Christopher Young's trial. Did that cause his sentencing?
Possible religious discrimination might grant a Texas death row inmate another
trial. Christopher Young filed an application for relief with the Texas Court
of Criminal Appeals on July 2, arguing that the discrimination against a
potential juror, based on her church affiliation, tainted his original trial.
Young was 21 when he shot and killed Hasmukh Patel during an attempted robbery
of a gas station. Before his trial, a woman was struck from the jury based
"solely" on her affiliation with a Baptist church where "some members"
ministered to prisoners, because the prosecution believed this could imply that
she favored the defendant. Today, Young's counsel claims the potential juror's
personal beliefs were never questioned, which was allowed under Casarez v.
State, where the CCA held that peremptory challenges made on the basis of a
potential juror's religious affiliation do not violate the 14th Amendment's
Equal Protection Clause.
The latest appeal, however, was granted in light of 2011's Devoe v. State, when
the CCA ruled that Casarez should be read as only "challenges made on the basis
of personal religious belief are permissible." Young's lawyer Jeff Newberry
said "the whole case hinges on the 2011 decision being the new law." The
Alliance Defending Freedom, a public interest organization that protects First
Amendment rights, along with a group of 23 "Faith Leaders," have filed amicus
briefs in support of Young's request for a new trial. According to one, if the
court upholds its original decision, it will "essentially create a rule that
says it is permissible for the citizens of Texas to be discriminated against in
the courtroom for freely exercising their right to affiliate with a particular
church."
Young's attorneys also filed a clemency petition with the Texas Board of
Pardons and Paroles on June 25, referencing Thomas Whitaker, who received
clemency in February ("Justice for Whom?" Feb. 16). That outcome has inspired
more Texas lawyers to seek clemency for their death row clients, but Newberry
believes the similarities between his client's case and Whitaker's set Young's
apart. As Whitaker's father asked the state to spare his son's life, Patel's
son Mitesh has asked the state to spare Young's.
The petition states Mitesh told Young's counsel that "boys who lose their
fathers traumatically have a 50-50 shot of being successful despite that
trauma. Mitesh was; Chris was not." (Young was a child when his own father was
murdered.) Now, Mitesh wants Young's sentence commuted so that Young can be a
"father to his daughters." The petition asks the board to focus on the
"important facts." Aside from Mitesh's plea, it states Young "is truly
remorseful," and that his life has "positive value, both as a father and as a
former gang member who can counsel other inmates." Newberry expects the board
to vote on Young's case on Friday, July 13.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Young's last appeal in January. If rulings
continue in the state's favor, Young will be executed on Tuesday, July 17.
Already, Texas has executed 7 inmates this year, with another 6 scheduled
before November.
(source: Austin Chronicle)
FLORIDA:
Man, 66, could still face death penalty if convicted in cold case
murderJames Leon Jackson charged in 1984 rape and murder of 10-year-old
Tammy Welch
Despite his age and infirmity, a 66-year-old man could still face the death
penalty in the cold case murder of a 10-year-old girl -- if he is convicted.
James Leon Jackson is charged in the 1984 rape and murder of Tammy Welch.
Jackson was considered a suspect all along but wasn't charged until 2013.
In 2016, Jackson's lawyers filed a motion to block the state attorney's office
from seeking the death penalty, per the U.S. Supreme Court's Hurst ruling.
At a hearing Tuesday, the judge denied that motion.
Other motions to preclude the death penalty are pending, and Jackson???s
lawyers now want a psychiatric evaluation done.
Jackson's trial is set for the end of the month.
(source: WJXT news)
*
After 20 years on death row, wrongly imprisoned man starts new life in Tampa
An Ohio man found not guilty after spending 20 years on death row is relocating
to Tampa through an organization that helps the recently exonerated rejoin
society.
When he was exonerated and released after 20 years in prison, he struggled to
rejoin society. Now, thanks to the Sunny Center, he will get the fresh start he
was dreaming of.
Derek Jamison's life was stolen at just 23-years-old. He was sentenced to death
for a murder he didn't commit.
"It was hell," Jamison said. "On earth."
Jamison was sentenced to death in 1985, charged with the robbery and murder of
a bartender at a restaurant in
