May 10
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO:
Europe urges Trinidad and Tobago to abolish death penalty
Europe on Tuesday urged Trinidad and Tobago to follow other Commonwealth
Caribbean countries and do away with a mandatory death penalty.
"We don't think that's the right answer. That's not for us to tell you what to
do. It's your country and you can run it as you wish. And we can well
understand the public pressures there may be, the political pressures there may
be, people calling in, in the face of crime, for the death penalty to be
carried out," the United Kingdom Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Tim Stew,
told a news conference.
Flanked by his counterparts from France, Spain, the Kingdom of the Netherlands
and Germany, the British diplomat said "we don't think it is effective.
"There is too much evidence to show that a mandatory death penalty is not an
effective deterrent to crime," he added.
The news conference was held ahead of Wednesday's recognition of Europe Day and
Stew said "in fact, we think it's worse than that.
"There is evidence which shows that when a jury knows that they are facing
somebody and have to decide if they are not guilty on a murder case, when they
know that the only penalty available to a judge is the death penalty, they are
less inclined to find that person guilty and more inclined to let that person
walk out of that court, even though they may have done what they are alleged to
have done.
"Whereas, if juries know there are range of options available to a judge, from
heavy sentencing to lighter sentencing, depending on the terms and
circumstances, then they are more inclined to see that justice is done," he
added.
The European Union Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago said it does not believe
the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime and expressed concerns
about the country's high crime rate, gang and drug activity and the significant
number of guns on the nation's streets.
However, it insisted that the death penalty was not "the right answer".
The diplomats shared their views on a number of issues, including human rights,
trade with Trinidad and Tobago, climate change, culture and its role in the
world.
Europe Day is the name of an annual observance by the European Union (EU),
being held today. It is also known as Schuman Day, in commemoration of the 1950
Schuman Declaration.
It is the EU's "equivalent of a national day" and its observance is strongly
associated with the display of the EU's equivalent of a national flag, the
"European flag or emblem".
(source: jamaicaobserver.com)
*********************
T&T's death penalty not a deterrent - EU leaders
The increasing gang and drug-related murders in T&T is very worrisome for heads
of the European Union delegation to T&T.
However, they strongly believe that the death penalty cannot put a damper to
the crisis.
The issue of guns on the streets was also raised by the delegation during a
media conference held at the EU's office, Sagicor Financial Centre, Queen's
Park West, Port-of-Spain on Tuesday.
The conference was to bring awareness to Europe Day which was celebrated
yesterday.
Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tim Stew said that there was enough evidence
in the courts which suggests that juries are less inclined to find accused
people guilty of murder when they know for a fact that the only penalty
available to a judge is the death penalty.
"They are more inclined to let that person walk out of that court, event hough
they may have done what they were alleged to have done," Stew said.
He added that if there are a range of options available to a judge, they jury
may be more inclined to see that justice is done by declaring a guilty verdict.
Stew further explained that the death penalty is not an effective death penalty
especially to those into drugs- and gang-related crimes and criminal activities
as the individuals themselves have already made up their minds that they are
going to lose their lives by the hands of another drug dealer.
"So, it's not a deterrent and the Government needs to think through these
issues equally. The same goes for crimes of passion.
"We don't think that's the right answer but it's not for us to tell you what to
do. It's your country and you can run it as you wish," Stew said.
Head of the delegation, Ambassador Aad Biesebroek said there is need for
dialogue, which they - the European Union leaders - are willing to sit and
discuss.
Also present were Ambassador to Spain Javier Carbajosa; Ambassador to France
Serge Lavroff, Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador Jules Bijl and Counsellor
Deputy Head of Mission Germany Andreas Haack.
(source: guardian.co.tt)
SOMALIA:
Somalia's Shabaab stone woman to death for marrying 11 men
Shabaab militants stoned a Somali woman to death on Wednesday after an Islamic
court sentenced her to the punishment for having married 11 men, the
Al-Qaeda-linked group and witnesses said.
According to witnesses the woman was publicly executed in the Sablaale district
of the lower Shabelle region, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Mogadishu.
The area is under control of the Islamist group.
"The judge... said that the woman has confessed to the charges against her,
that she married 11 husbands at the same time," read a statement carried on a
pro-Shabaab website.
Witnesses, who declined to be named, said a dozen hooded Shabaab fighters were
involved in the stoning.
According to the Shabaab statement, the 30-year-old mother of 8 was arrested
after 2 men argued over her, each claiming to be her legal husband. After her
arrest the number of men claiming to have married her increased.
"1 of the husbands died and another divorced her, but 9 others were still
married to her," the statement added.
Witnesses said the woman married the men secretly and that none of them were
aware of her prior marriages.
While a Somali man -- who can marry up to 4 wives -- sometimes marries secretly
to hide a union from 1 of his other spouses, this is far less common among
women.
However it does occur that a woman will take a 2nd husband without an official
divorce, often for economic reasons.
Soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) pushed the Shabaab
out of the Somali capital in 2011, subsequently ousting them from other cities
and towns.
But the Islamists still hold sway in large parts of the countryside where they
often carry out stonings for adultery.
(source: iol.co.za)
BANGLADESH:
Death and life sentences for killing of Bangladeshi professor----Machete murder
of academic part of a rise in Islamic militancy in the mostly moderate
Muslim-majority country
2 Islamic militants were sentenced to death and 3 others given life terms by a
court in Bangladesh for the machete murder of a liberal academic.
Judge Shirin Kabita Akhter of the Fast-track Tribunal in Rajshahi district
found the 5 men guilty on May 8 over the murder of Professor A.F.M. Rezaul
Karim of Rajshahi University, a known advocate for liberalism and religious
pluralism.
Karim was killed by machete as he made his way to the campus situated in the
northwestern city of Rajshahi on April 23, 2016.
The 2 men sentenced to death - Shariful Islam and Maskawat Hasan - are
reportedly members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahidin, 1 of 2 banned militant outfits
blamed for a series of deadly attacks on liberals, intellectuals, religious
minorities and foreigners since 2013. These have occurred amid a sharp rise in
Islamic militancy in what is a largely moderate Muslim-majority country.
Islam, who remains at large and was sentenced in absentia, was a student in the
English department where 58-year-old Karim taught. The three sentenced to life
imprisonment were found guilty of aiding and abetting the 2 men found guilty of
carrying out the killing.
Riasat Imtiaz, son of the slain academic, welcomed the verdict.
"The verdict is solace for us. We would be even happier if all the accused were
given the death penalty. Some suspects remain in hiding, so we appeal to the
government to arrest them and implement the verdict quickly," Imtiaz told
ucanews.com.
Theophil Nokrek, secretary of the Catholic bishops' Justice and Peace
Commission, said justice is welcomed but the Catholic Church does not support
the death penalty.
"Taking away life is not a solution but we cannot reject what the court has
done according to the law of the land. But I am doubtful whether this verdict
can instill fear among those who follow a militant ideology," Nokrek told
ucanews.com.
"Besides legal battles, we need to fight militants and their sympathizers with
a strong counter ideology, one based on pluralism and harmony."
Bangladesh has seen about 50 people including atheist bloggers, writers,
publishers, liberal academics, gay activists, religious minorities and
foreigners murdered by militants since 2013.
In response, the government has launched a crackdown on militants that has
resulted in dozens of militants killed in shootouts and hundreds arrested and
facing trials.
(source: ucanews.com)
INDIA:
HC confirms death sentence to accused in gangrape case
In the matter related to committing gang rape and murder of the 11 years old
girl, the Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court comprising of
Justice, S K Seth and Justice, Nandita Dubey has confirm the death sentence
awarded by the trial court to each of the accused.The division bench mentioned
in the judgment that "In view of the aforestated, in our considered view, the
capital punishment to the accused persons is the only proper punishment and we
see no reason to take a different view than the one taken by the trial Court.
Hence, we confirm the death sentence awarded by the trial court to each of the
accused and resultantly dismiss the appeal preferred by the 28
appellants-accused against their conviction and sentence. Reference is answered
accordingly. Let a copy of this judgment be retained in the file of the
connected criminal appeal. Office is directed to send a copy of the judgment
immediately to the trial Court for taking appropriate action, in accordance
with law. Ordered accordingly."
The division bench added that "In the present factual matrix, the deceased, a
helpless child of 11 years, who had gone to keep her belongings to the house of
accused Satish, was kidnapped and subsequently raped. She was also subjected to
27 have provided any excuse, much less any provocation for committing such
heinous act, coupled with the subsequent conduct of throwing the half naked
body of the deceased in the open exhibiting their abusive conduct, and acting
normal after commission of the crime, asking for liquor from Jaipal shows lack
of any remorse on their part. Under the facts and circumstances of the case,
the only punishment, which the accused persons deserve for having committed the
reprehensible and gruesome murder of innocent child to satisfy their lust, is
nothing but death.
We are immensely appalled by the alarming increase in the recent incidents of
child rapes and also being aware of the rising anger of the society over rape
of minor across the country, therefore, consider death sentence as a measure of
social necessity and also a mean of deterring other potential offenders." This
death reference and connected appeal arise out of the judgment of conviction
passed by the Sessions Judge, Dindori holding the accused persons guilty of the
charges levelled against them in the trial.
It is undisputed that the deceased and the accused persons are resident of the
same village and on April 14, 2017, the family of the deceased as well as the
accused Bhagwani had gone to attend the Chowk ceremony at the house of one Anil
Maravi. It is also undisputed that in the early morning of April 15, 2017, both
the accused had gone to the house of Jaipal asking for liquor, and when the
mother of accused-appellant Bhagwani came there, they went away. It is also an
admitted fact that the deceased had gone to the house of accused Satish to keep
blanket and shawl.
The prosecution case, in nut shell, is that in the intervening night of April
14, 2017 and April 15, 2017, the accused kidnapped the deceased who was aged 11
years and after committing gang rape on her, throttled her to death. It is
alleged that on April 14, 2017 at around 9 PM, the deceased, aged 11 years had
gone with her parents to attend the chowk ceremony, from where she went missing
. She was last seen going to the house of accused Satish to keep blanket and
shawl. Her father Brajlal and mother Kalawati searched for her all through the
night, but their efforts were rendered futile. At 5 AM on next morning that was
April 15, 2017 her dead body ultimately found lying near a hand pump situated
near the road. Her slacks were drawn below the knee and there were injuries and
scratches on the neck and different parts of body of deceased, her genitals
were 4 blood soaked. It was suspected that between 11 PM to 4 AM some unknown
person has kidnapped the deceased and committed the heinous offence of rape and
after silencing her dumped the body near the hand pump. On the basis of this
report, Marg was recorded and FIR was registered against unknown persons at
Crime. The trial court found both the accused guilty on each count and
sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment, but so far as offence
punishable under Section 376 A and 302 of IPC, the trial Court awarded capital
punishment, hence this reference for confirmation of death sentence and appeal
by accused-appellants Bhagwani and Satish. The division bench of the MPHC has
heard the petition (IN REFERENCE) (Received from District & Sessions Judge,
Dindori (MP) versus respondents, accused Bhagwani Markam, Satish Singh and
criminal appeal filed by appellants, accused Bhagwani Markam and Satish Singh
Versus State of Madhya Pradesh Through Police Station Mehandwani,
District-Dindori.
(source: The Hitavada)
****************************
Man gets death sentence for kidnapping, murdering minor boy
The Nagpur District Court today awarded the death penalty to a man for
kidnapping and murdering an 11-year-old boy in the city in 2013.
Santosh Kadve (26), the accused, was held guilty of kidnapping and murdering
the boy on June 10, 2013, said special public prosecutor Vijay Kolhe.
Sessions judge Shekhar Munghate delivered the verdict today, he said.
"The case fell under the 'rarest of rare' category and we had sought capital
punishment. We proved the boy was last seen with Kadve by examining two child
witnesses," he said.
A total of 27 witnesses were examined by the prosecution.
The boy had gone missing while playing outside his house in the Khapri area
here.
According to the prosecution, Kadve, who lived nearby, had kidnapped him. He
later called the boy's parents and demanded Rs 2 lakh in ransom.
Police tried to track him down from the mobile phone from which Kadve had
called. When they finally zeroed in on Kadve, they found that he had already
killed the boy and dumped his body near Mihan Overbridge, covering it with
stones.
The body was found on the basis of the information given by Kadve during the
interrogation, a fact which the court considered while holding him guilty, the
prosecutor said.
(source: Press Trust of India)
PAKISTAN:
Man awarded capital punishment for killing prayer leader
A convict was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday
in a sectarian killing case pertaining to the murder of a prayer leader in
Karachi.
The trial of Syed Nadeem Abbas Zaidi was conducted by the ATC judge in the
judicial complex inside Central Jail Karachi. Zaidi was awarded capital
punishment and was ordered to pay compensation amounting to Rs0.2 million to
the victim's legal heirs.
The convict was also fined Rs10,000 and sentenced to a 7-year imprisonment term
for the possession of illicit arms.
The ATC judge also added that if the convict failed to pay the fine, he would
have to serve an additional imprisonment term.
Co-accused Ahmed Rangar was exonerated on the charges of abetment and the case
was declared dormant against Ghazanfar Ali, Abba, Zaheer and Sohail Mohammad.
Qari Mohammad Amin, prayer leader of Bilal Masjid was gunned down near the
mosque on February 23, while the suspect was overpowered by people present at
the site, according to the prosecution.
The benefit of Section 382(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code was extended by
the court.
(source: Pakistan Today)
IRAN----execution
Prisoner Hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison
At least 1 prisoner was executed at Rajai Shahr Prison on murder charges.
According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, May 9, a prisoner was
executed at Rajai Shahr Prison. The prisoner, charged with murder, was
identified as Reza Hamidi.
The prisoner was transferred to the solitary confinement from ward 10 of Rajai
Shahr Prison on Monday, May 7.
A close source told Iran Human Rights, "Reza was sentenced to death on the
charge of murdering his mother-in-law and he failed to gain the consent of the
plaintiffs."
The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so
far.
According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the
517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There
is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in
issuing a death sentence for any kind of murder regardless of intensity and
intent.
(source: Iran Human Rights)
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