Aug. 11
UNITED KINGDOM:
Hanged for murder: 50th anniversary of last people to be executed in Britain
When, at 8am on 13 August 1964, Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans took a short walk
to the gallows to be hanged for murder, the deaths of 2 hapless petty criminals
were little mourned and little noticed.
Instead Allen and Evans became the last people to be executed in Britain.
Wednesday this week will be the 50th anniversary not just of their deaths, but
of a major milestone in the history of British justice.
The death penalty for murder was suspended for a trial period the year after
they were executed. In 1969 it was abolished altogether by a vote in the House
of Commons, which won an overwhelming majority and loud cheers from the public
gallery.
So a killing characterised more by incompetent desperation than anything
resembling cold-blooded calculation acquired a significance few could have
imagined at the time.
Needing money to pay off magistrates fines of 10 pounds imposed on them for
earlier thefts, the 2 jobless men had driven to the home of Evans' former
workmate John West, 53, in Seaton, Cumbria, to request the loan of "a few
quid".
Mr West refused to give them any money. His stabbed and battered body was found
the next day. Tracing the 2 suspects was hardly difficult. Evans had left his
raincoat at the scene, with a medallion inscribed with his name.
Letters from both men's mothers begging the Home Secretary Henry Brooke to
grant clemency had no effect.
At Strangeways, Manchester, Evans, 24, was led from his cell by Harry Allen,
who always wore a bow tie for the job as a sign of "respect" and once claimed
he "never felt a moment's remorse" for his executions.
35 miles away in Walton Jail, Liverpool, Allen, 21, shouted "Jesus" as he was
led to the gallows by his executioner Robert Stewart.
Former prison officer George Donaldson who witnessed the execution, told the
makers of the ITV documentary Executed: "At the last minute he seemed to make
some sort of effort to throw himself, but he didn't get the chance. The lever
dropped, the door opened and down he went. It was all over."
From murder to double execution had taken just 18 weeks. It was too late for
Evans and Allen, but an abolitionist campaign that dated at least as far back
as the formation of the National Council for the Abolition of the Death Penalty
(NCADP), in 1923 - after the dubious execution of Edith Thompson - was
beginning to bear fruit. It was fuelled by cases like that of Derek Bentley, a
19-year-old with a mental age of 11 who was hanged in 1953 for the murder of a
policeman, despite not having fired the fatal shot. The officer had told
Bentley's accomplice to hand over the gun, and the teenager had uttered the
highly ambiguous phrase: "Let him have it."
Also in 1953 it was discovered that the Rillington Place serial killer John
Christie had been the real murderer of Beryl Evans and her baby daughter
Geraldine. Mrs Evans' husband Timothy had been wrongly hanged in 1950.
Mr Evans' sister Maureen Westlake told the Executed documentary, to be
broadcast on Tuesday night: "The last time I saw him, he did look like a
10-year-old. His face was all pale. He waved and said, 'cheerio'."
"It's the Government that murdered Tim. Not killed him. Murdered him."
In January this year, a poll found that 54 % of British people want the return
of the death penalty.
(source: The Independent)
KENYA:
Kenyan MP proposes 'Stone the Gays To Death' Bill ---- Kenya's Republican
Liberty Party has proposed stoning gays and lesbians to death and has put a
bill to that end before the National Assembly for its consideration
Kenya's Republican Liberty Party wants to impose the death penalty for
homosexuality and has put forward a bill that would see foreign gays and
lesbians in the country stoned to death. The party's draft Anti-Homosexuality
Bill would also see gay and lesbian Kenyans jailed for life and stoned to death
in public for 'aggravated homosexuality' which the bill defines as sex with a
person under 18, where the person has HIV or where the person is in a position
of authority over the person they have had sex with.
The 'aggravated' category also includes same-sex activity with a person who has
a disability or where the person is a 'serial offender.'
The bill appears to be modeled on a similar law in Uganda that was recently
struck down by its Constitutional Court and is now before the Kenyan
Parliament's Justice and Legal Affairs.
Particularly concerning is the imposition of the death penalty on non-citizens
who engage in sex between people of the same sex as a large number of LGBTI
Ugandans have fled to Kenya to escape the anti-gay climate in their homeland.
The Republican Liberty Party claims that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is needed
to combat external threats to the heterosexual family unit in Kenya.
'There is need to protect children and youth who are vulnerable to sexual abuse
and deviation as a result of cultural changes, uncensored information
technology, parentless child developmental settings and increasing attempts by
homosexuals to raise children in homosexual relationships through adoption,
foster care or otherwise,' the bill's author Edward Onwong'a Nyakeriga claims.
'The [bill] aims at providing a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to
protect the cherished culture of the people of Kenya, legal, religious and
traditional family values against the attempts of sexual rights activists
seeking to impose their values of sexual promiscuity on the people of Kenya.'
The bill comes after a group of Kenyan MPs formed an anti-gay caucus in the
Parliament and calls to investigate why Kenya's existing laws against
homosexuality were not being enforced more aggressively. Kenya already punishes
homosexual acts with sentences of between 5 and 14 years in prison.
(source: gaystarnews.com)
INDIA:
Ranjita killing: JAC demands death penalty, family of accused cries foul
The JAC formed against the brutal killing of Lourembam Ranjita (30) who was
found stabbed to death at a paddy field at Yairipok Khoirom Mathak Leikai on
August 2 has demanded life imprisonment or death penalty of the accused killer
Laishram Ibomcha (52) of Yairipok Khoirom Mathak Leikai Ataobung Keithel.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here today, Khaidem Arunkumar,
convener of the JAC, said that police have confirmed the hand of Ibomcha in the
killing and informed that the culprit was also involved in rape and other
crimes in the past.
He stated that life imprisonment or death penalty is the right punishment for
the accused as there is apprehension amongst the people of Yairipok Khoirom
Mathak Leikai that Ibomcha will commit such heinous crime in future if he is
set scot free.
Pointing out that Ranjita is survived by her 2 sons, 2 daughters and husband
who is a mason, he also demanded the government to provide necessary
compensation to family of the deceased.
Meanwhile, family members of Laishram Ibomcha have refuted the charges leveled
against him saying that he has been framed with a political motive by some
people with vested interest.
Speaking to media persons, Laishram Naoba, son of Ibomcha, stated that the act
of torching their house and brick field by an irate mob just out of mere
suspicion that was unfortunate and appealed to the concerned authority to
intervene into the case and find out the real killer of Ranjita.
He also negated the charges that his father was involved in rape and other
crimes in the locality in the past.
(source: Hueiyen News Service)
BANGLADESH:
Capital punishment to culprits demanded
Hundreds of villagers including women and children formed a 4-kilometre-long
human chain at Shalbahanhat in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh yesterday,
demanding arrest and death penalty of the killers of housewife Shamsun Nahar.
Under the banner of Tentulia Upazila Sachetan Mahal, people from all walks of
life joined the hour-long programe.
Police recovered the body of the slain housewife from a kitchen at Sahebjoth
village in the upazila Friday early morning.
Shamsun Nahar, 38, was wife of headmaster of Sipaipara Government Primary
School Asir Uddin of Sahebjoth village in the same upazila.
Police and family sources said, after taking food Shamsun Nnahar went to bed at
about 11:00pm like other days. Her mother-in-law Asia Bewa woke up and went to
their kitchen at about 4:30am to have sehri for fasting and found Shamsun
Nahar's body lying there.
Hearing her screams, other family members and neighbours rushed to the spot and
informed the police.
(source: The Daily Star)
MALAYSIA:
British medical students murder: Mother of accused begs for son to be spared
death
The mother of a fish seller believed to have stabbed to death 2 British medical
students yesterday begged: "Don't let them hang my son."
Fatimah Sauli's son, Zulkipli Abdullah, is the main suspect in the brutal early
hours attack near a bar on the island of Borneo and faces the death penalty.
Abdullah, 24, is accused of driving after Newcastle University pals Neil Dalton
and Aidan Brunger with 3 friends before jumping out of the car and knifing
them.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia has now tweeted his condolences at the savage
killings.
Abdullah appeared in court on Wednesday - just hours after the Britons were
killed - and is reported to have admitted his guilt to police.
After being persuaded by other members of her family to speak out, Fatimah -
clutching a photo of her son as a child - begged: "Please don't let them hang
him. He's my only son.
"It's awful what happened, but nothing is going to bring back those 2 boys."
Asked if she had a message for the parents of Neil, 23, and Aidan, 22, she
said: "I want them to know how sorry I am."
She told how Abdullah came back to the shack they share after the attack: "I
heard him come in but he didn't say a word. He just went to bed. He was very
upset.
"Then a few hours later there's banging on the door of our house, and lots of
police officers were outside. They came in and handcuffed him. I didn't know
what was happening. They searched the house and took my son away. I've not seen
him since and I'm terrified for the future.
"He's my only child. His problem is he drinks too much, but he doesn't deserve
to die."
3 of the 4 suspects tested positive for the drug Methamphetamine, or crystal
meth, according to a police report.
Locals say Borneo, which is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia, is awash
with the powerful drug.
In the seedy red light district of the city of Kuching, in Sarawak, Malaysia,
where the attack took place, crystal meth is sold as white powder in plastic
straws.
At the bottom of the muddy track leading to Abdullah's home in the
impoverished, riverside area of Kampung Gersik is a circle of huts which serve
as a roughshod food court, with wooden tables and benches.
One villager pointed to it saying: "This is not a place for tourists.
"At night lots of the youngsters come out and get drunk here. Some people carry
weapons and show off. Fights happen. It is dangerous."
"Zul would come here and get drunk. He was a well known person in this village.
People are very upset about what happened. But they don't think it was Zul's
fault. Zul went too far, but there are 2 sides to the story."
Fatimah also insisted her son was not to blame for the row which led to the 2
students being killed. Although she had not talked to him since the killings,
she said: "Both groups were sitting in a bar.
"Zulkipli was drunk with his friends, and the British boys were together on
another table, also drunk.
"Then a row broke out, and 1 of the British students flipped over the table
where Zulkipli was sitting. Everyone was shouting at each other, then Zulkipli
got slapped in the face.
"The British boys ran away, and that's when the stabbings happened. The whole
thing is so confusing."
Neil and Aidan were found by cafe workers at 4.15am, roughly 20 metres apart,
sprawled on the road and gasping for air after being stabbed. The owner of a
bistro spotted the car Abdullah and his friends had used to follow the
students, managing to take down the registration plate.
Just hours later police had arrested Abdullah, 24, mechanic Yeo Kia Sing, 29,
and jobless Remy Bin Marjuki, 19.
They appeared at Kuching Magistrates Court on the same day and were remanded in
police custody for 7 days.
A 4th man, Abdul Aziz Bin Karim, 35, appeared in court the next day after being
arrested while on the run.
Fatimah has not yet seen her son in jail but said she would attend court,
She explained: "I will give him the best support I can offer. But we have no
money for expensive lawyers. I worry that he will get a fair hearing. There are
rumours the authorities will make an example of him for attacking a tourist."
The bodies of Neil and Aidan have now been flown out of Kuching following the
completion of a post-mortem examination.
They were transported on Malaysian Airlines flight MH2527 bound for Kuala
Lumpur. Their bodies were then transferred onto another flight bound for the
UK.
Their relatives did not travel to Borneo and instead the identification of the
bodies was carried out by friends of the students. Both had been on a 6-week
work placement in Kuching.
The pair were described as "excellent" and "hard working" students by the
Medical school at Newcastle University.
Neil grew up in Belper, Derbyshire where he attended the local school,
achieving 4 A* grades at A -Level.
Aidan Brunger from Gillingham, Kent, was a pupil at Rainham Mark Grammar School
before winning a place at Newcastle University to study medicine.
The pair had been part of a large group of overseas students based in Kuching.
Meanwhile Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wrote on his
Twitter page: "My condolences to the families and friends of Britons Neil
Dalton and Aidan Brunger.
"Those responsible for their deaths must be brought to justice."
Deputy police commissioner Chai Khin Chung told the Mirror they had completed
their investigation and would pass on their evidence to prosecutors.
He said: "All 4 are being investigated for murder, which is a capital crime in
Borneo. They have admitted the crime."
(source: Daily Mirror)
PHILIPPINES:
QC mayor Bautista wants death penalty law revisited
After slapping a suspected Chinese drug dealer last week, Quezon City Mayor
Herbert Bautista on Monday called for a revisiting of the country's death
penalty law.
In a phone-patch interview on Mornings@ANC, Bautista noted that some members of
the public who reacted to the arrest of the Chinese drug dealer wanted to
revive the controversial punishment.
"I am hoping that Congress will revisit the issue of death penalty especially
on drug-related cases," Bautista said.
Bautista added that he can propose the move to former Quezon City mayor and now
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
He also hoped that Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas will be
"vigilant in pushing for the death penalty" and in pursuing people and
organizations behind the illegal drug trade.
"Nakakasira talaga ng pamilya ang droga," Bautista said.
Meantime, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Etta Rosales said there
is no evidence proving that death penalty in fact reduces criminality.
"The best solution is the certainty of arrest, investigation, the certainty of
prosecution, conviction and penalty. That, to me, is what we should focus on,"
Rosales told ANC and Bautista.
The CHR chief said the present global trend in human rights is the abolition of
the death penalty and the strengthening of restorative justice.
Bautista agreed with Rosales, clarifying that he only wants lawmakers to look
into the issue.
The mayor recently apologized to Rosales after he slapped on Friday a Chinese
national who was caught with 10 kilos of shabu, with a street value of P15
million.
(source: Philippine Star)
SAUDI ARABIA:
Bahraini Group Urges Saving the Life of Prominent Saudi Shia Cleric 'Nimr Baqr
al-Nimr'
The February 14 Movement of Bahrain issued a statement calling on the
international community and human rights organizations to try and save the life
of top Saudi cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.
It also urged all the noble people of the world and the religious authorities
in the Arab and Muslim world to take steps to save the Shia cleric's life.
The movement also warned the Saudi government against the consequences of a
possible death penalty for Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.
Saudi security forces arrested Nimr Baqr al-Nimr in July 2012 and have kept him
behind bars since then. The prominent cleric is reported to have been under
torture.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that a Saudi prosecutor has demanded the
death penalty for Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.
(source: AhlulBayt News Agency)
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