[Deathpenalty] [SPAM] death penalty news----worldwide
April 5 JAPAN: Ogawa has no qualms about executionsJustice minister says lay judges, public call shots on inmates' fate The 3 executions Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa approved March 29 ended a 20-month spell during which no death-row inmates were hanged. Ogawa, who assumed his post in January, has declared he will not hesitate to issue more death warrants, raising the prospect that more hangings are due on his watch. His stance presents a stark contrast to that of his two predecessors, who were reluctant to sign off on executions. "It is the people who decide what type of penalty should be meted out for each crime," Ogawa told the press on the morning the three death-row prisoners were hanged. The inmates included Yasuaki Uwabe, 48, who was convicted of killing five people and injuring 10 others in a 1999 rampage at a train station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. "The death penalty has been supported in lay judge trials," Ogawa said, referring to the new system that makes use of lay and professional judges. While the death sentence is the heaviest punishment that can be handed down in such trials, which began in May 2009, the justice minister still has sole responsibility for approving executions and deciding when they will be carried out. At the news conference on the day of the hangings, Ogawa repeated that "issuing an execution order is the duty of a justice minister," and stressed that capital punishment is based on "a judgment made by the nation." He had approved the 3 men's death warrants 2 days earlier. Lay judge trials have resulted in death sentences on more than 10 occasions, and earlier in March, an appellate court supported a death sentence handed down by a lay judge trial. Referring to such rulings, prosecutor-turned-lawyer Masaru Wakasa said that each case represents "the conclusion that ordinary citizens drew after going through the agony (of judging whether a person should live or die)." A justice minister "must give weight to the fact that death penalty rulings have been issued by lay judge panels," Wakasa said. With more than 130 inmates on death row — a record high — officials at the Justice Ministry who support executions praise Ogawa's determination to follow through with hangings. "We have finally returned to the way it should be, carrying out executions in line with our professional responsibilities," one of Ogawa's aides said. Some officials at the Justice Ministry are even speculating the 3 hangings may herald a return to the days of former Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama, who sent 13 death-row inmates to the gallows during his 11-month stint. Ogawa's predecessors, however, took a completely different stance on the death sentence. In an interview last August, then Justice Minister Satsuki Eda expressed reservations about authorizing executions at a time when the nation was mourning the loss of nearly 19,000 people in the March 2011 quake and tsunami. "With a large number of people having died in the calamity, it is time for the nation to calmly consider the issue of capital punishment," he said. Eda said that he believed the death penalty "contained various flaws" when he became justice minister that January. He later retracted the remark, however. Hideo Hiraoka, Ogawa's immediate predecessor, was also reluctant to use executions. "A national debate is necessary about whether to keep or abolish" the death penalty, Hiraoka said. Ogawa, however, has shown no such reservations since he assumed the post in a Jan. 13 Cabinet reshuffle. He indicated that executions were in the offing when he told a Diet session that the death penalty "should be implemented in line with the justice minister's professional responsibility. I will issue orders." The executions dismayed Hideki Wakabayashi, executive director of Amnesty International Japan, especially as there were no hangings during 2011 — the first such occurrence in 19 years. "Last year, the world was happy," Wakabayashi said, referring to the absence of executions. An official at another human rights group voiced a sense of urgency in light of the March 29 hangings, saying, "We have to do whatever we can to make this round of executions the last." In early March, Ogawa also decided to scrap an internal study group on the death penalty within the Justice Ministry. The group had been set up by former Justice Minister Keiko Chiba after she authorized the hangings of two inmates in July 2010, the first executions under the Democratic Party of Japan's administration. Since its inaugural meeting in August, the group has convened on 10 other occasions to solicit the views of academics, lawyers, crime victims and opponents of the death penalty. On Friday, Ogawa said the need for a national debate on capital punishment would not blunt his determination to execute more prisoners. "Just because debate is taking place doesn't necessarily mean
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, FLA., ARK., USA
April 5 TEXAS: Grand jury brings capital murder charge against male suspect in Sabin shooting death On Wednesday, the Hood County grand jury indicted 23-year-old Hood County resident Justin Wade Ragan on a charge of capital murder in the Jan. 17 shooting death of Gene Sabin. Ragan has been in custody since the day of the shooting. A second suspect who was arrested in New Mexico in connection with the case, Kimberly Danielle Milwicz, 23, of Granada, Calif., was indicted by the same grand jury on a murder charge. District attorney Rob Christian said on Thursday afternoon that there has been no decision made on whether the death penalty will be sought against Ragan. (source: Hood County News) FLORIDA: David Alan Gore's Boasting As Serial Killer May Have Sped Up Execution Serial killer David Alan Gore is set to be executed sooner than he expected, in part because he could not stop bragging about raping and murdering 4 teenagers and 2 women in the Vero Beach area about 30 years ago. Several people have made sure the boasting did not go unnoticed. There was the Las Vegas man who wrote to Gore, an author who published the inmate's grotesque letters, and a newspaper columnist and editorial board who brought the case to the attention of Florida Gov. Rick Scott. The Republican promptly signed the death warrant even though more than 40 other men have been on death row longer. Gore is set to die April 12. "Those letters are so disturbing and so insightful into who this person is ...," said Pete Earley, who recently published some of the letters in his book "Serial Killer Whisperer." "Gore, actually, he talked his way into the death chamber." Tony Ciaglia wrote to Gore and other serial killers on a whim after suffering a severe head injury as a teenager. He has corresponded with a few dozen of the murderers in an effort to better understand them. He began exchanging letters with Gore about five years ago, receiving about 200 pages in all. Most contained in the book are too graphic to quote. In one, Gore described step-by-step how he and his cousin abducted two 14-year-old friends and sexually assaulted them. "I drug both bodies into the woods where I disposed of them. Oh and you can believe, I collected hair. It took a couple days to recover from that. It was a perfect experience," Gore wrote. In another letter, Gore described his uncontrollable desire to kill. "It's sort of along the lines as being horny. You start getting horny and it just keeps building until you have to get some relief," Gore wrote. "That is the same with the URGE to kill. It usually starts out slow and builds and you will take whatever chances necessary to satisfy it. And believe me, you constantly think about getting caught, but the rush is worth the risk." Gore also wrote about picking up Lynn Elliot, 17, and a 14-year-old friend, who were hitchhiking near the beach on July 26, 1983. Gore and his cousin, Fred Waterfield, took them back to Gore's home, where the girls were bound. Waterfield left, and Gore raped both. Elliot was able to free her feet and, with hands still tied, ran naked from the house. Gore, also naked, chased her and shot her twice in the head. A boy riding a bicycle saw the murder. His mother called 911 and the 14-year-old was rescued. After being arrested for Elliot's murder, Gore confessed to the other killings. He led authorities to the remains of all but 14-year-old Angelica Lavallee, who hasn't been found. Waterfield was convicted of manslaughter in Elliot's death and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was later convicted in two of the other murders and is serving back-to-back life sentences. Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers columnist Russ Lemmon, who has written about the Gore case for a couple of years, published a column for a few newspapers in southeastern Florida on the day the editorial board had an interview with the governor. They talked about the case, the book and read Scott an excerpt from an email from one of Elliott's relatives. The board asked Scott if he had considered signing Gore's death warrant. The governor promised to look into it. Meanwhile, letters poured into Scott's office, many of them mentioning the correspondence. "Pete Earley provides compelling evidence that David Gore relishes every detail of his heinous murders," wrote Ralph Sexton, whose nephew was married to one of the women killed. About a month after the editorial board meeting, Scott signed Gore's death warrant. A spokeswoman for Scott said he had not read the book. Gore's attorneys are now appealing, arguing in part that the governor's decision to sign the warrant was unfairly influenced by the editorial board. Lisa Burford, who was friends with Elliott, credited friends and relatives of the victims for continuing to press for Gore's execution. "The timing of the book just happened to work out perfectly. That is the bonus o
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
April 5 IRANexecution 1 prisoner was hanged in central Iran 1 prisoner was hanged in the town of Aran-Bigdel, reported the Iranian state broadcasting today. The report that was quoting the security chief of Aran- Bigdel Ali Babaei said: The prisoner was charged with keeping 760 grams of crack, 4 grams of synthetic heroin and 11 grams of opium. The prisoner was not identified by name. According to IHR’s annual report on the death penalty in 2011in Iran, more than 80 % of those executed in Iran were charged with drug-related crimes, but only 9 % of them are identified by name. (source: Iran Human Rights) NIGERIA: Death to Capital Offenders The international non-governmental organisation, Lawyers Without Borders, which has been approaching different nations to canvass the abolition of death penalty, was in Abuja last week with its message. At a 1-day conference organised by Lawyers Without Borders, France, however, the Nigerian authorities expressed their helplessness in view of the existence of section 33 of the Nigerian constitution that prescribes death for capital offences. Until the legislature amends the law governing the nation's criminal justice system, said chief justice of Nigeria Dahiru Musdapher, the law remains. That was also the view of the Nigerian Bar Association's president, Joseph Daudu. But representatives of the attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, and the National Human Rights Commission reportedly sat on the fence. Lawyers Without Borders seems to be reigniting an old debate. But we have not seen any need to change Nigerian law on the matter of capital punishment. In fact, a seeming suspension on execution of death sentences could have emboldened criminals in Nigeria. Since 1999, the Nigerian president and state governors have hardly signed death warrants. As a result, hundreds of convicts on death row are still held in our prisons; there have been jailbreaks on occasion, leading to the escape of prisoners. Abolishment of death penalty is largely western culture. Most Africans believe that a killer deserves to be killed. Therefore, it is still too early to let die-hard criminals stay alive, even in jail, in any crime-infested country. Wouldn't it be nice for Lawyers Without Borders to also canvass the abolition of capital crimes like murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, embezzlement of public funds, drug trafficking and terrorism that plague our country today? Otherwise, capital sins should attract capital punishment. China, for instance, owes its greatness partly to its attitude towards certain crimes: corruption as well as drug peddling attracts the capital punishment. Had Nigeria toed the line of China, maybe incidences of treasury looting, armed robbery and drug pushing would have been in decline. Our statute books or the constitution should not be amended to accommodate the views of Amnesty International, Lawyers Without Borders and other NGOs on this matter of death penalty. At least not now. Rather than abolish it, the list of capital crimes should be expanded to include government corruption, arson and 419 fraud. Needless to say, Nigerian lawmakers and other government officials will not be enthusiastic about this proposal. It is their leniency to certain crimes that has helped to institutionalise corruption in the country. Where they cannot make corruption attract the death penalty, governors and the president should, however, be compelled to sign death warrants, if only to decongest our prisons. (source: Editorial, All Africa News) INDONESIA: Bali bombing survivor wants Patek death sentence Reporter: Matt Brown Australians have testified at the trial of alleged Bali bomb-maker Umar Patek, with one survivor calling for the death sentence. Transcript TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Survivors of the 2002 Bali bombing have appeared in a Jakarta court to give evidence in the trial of the alleged bomb maker Umar Patek. Patek is accused of building the car bomb used in the attacks, which killed more than 200 people. Today, Australian survivors confronted the alleged bomber. Indonesia correspondent Matt Brown reports from Jakarta. MATT BROWN, REPORTER: Umar Patek arrived in a good mood, undaunted by the prospect of coming face to face with his victims. He showed no emotion, even as Peter Hughes testified about the lasting impact of the twin blasts. PETER HUGHES, BALI BOMBING SURVIVOR: I feel isolated. I feel lonely. I feel depressed. I feel frustrated. I feel annoyed. Um, and very, very angry. MATT BROWN: Patek is accused of mixing the explosives for the bombings. They left Peter Hughes on death's door with horrific burns to much of his body and nearly 10 years after the event, it's still hard to talk about. PETER HUGHES: It's pretty tough to get through the mental trauma of it all. MATT BROWN: This is the 1st time the alleged bomber and his victim have b
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, CONN., CALIF., PENN., USA, OKLA.
April 5 TEXAS: Gran Appeals To UK To Save Her From Execution The British Government has said it is doing all it can the save the life of a British grandmother who has spent 11 years on Death Row in the United States. She would become the first British woman to be executed in 50 years. She was convicted of killing a young mother in Texas a decade ago but has always said she was framed. Her lawyers believe she was failed by the American legal system and admit her situation is "desperate". Carty spoke to Sky News on death row in Texas and told us: "I am 110% innocent. I know I didn't commit this crime. They took 11 years of my life for something I know I didn't do." She was born on the Caribbean island of St Kitts before its independence from Britain and now wants support from the UK. "If you don't then you're telling me there's no value to my life and if you do intercede it is saying that every British national, it doesn't matter whether we were born in the mother country or in the colonies, we matter," Carty said. "We are British. I can't wash off my nationality with soap and water. I am going to always be British." Ms Carty said she feels sympathy for the family of victim Joana Rodriguez. "She was somebody's child too, somebody's daughter. For me it's not only a healing process but its to show the families that the person you've been hating all these years did not commit this crime," she said. Ms Carty is being represented by the campaign group Reprieve. Director Clive Stafford-Smith said her best chance of avoiding the death penalty was clemency. The Foreign Office said it is putting pressure on the authorities in Texas. "The Prime Minister and British Government are deeply concerned by the position Ms Carty is in," it said in a statement. "We are committed to using all appropriate influence to prevent the execution of any British national. "We are working closely with Ms Carty's legal team to ensure their work to secure clemency is supported by appropriate political representations." Since her conviction, Ms Carty has been held at the Mountain View unit in Gatesville where all of the women on death row in Texas are held. She admitted she fears her death sentence. "I won't get up and ask the British Government to go out in the public and lobby for me had I known that I am guilty because then it would be an embarrassment not only to myself and my family but also the country that I love. "So for me when I say I am innocent and that I didn't commit this crime I mean that." (source: Yahoo News) CONNECTICUT: Connecticut Senate votes to repeal death penalty in state The Connecticut Senate voted on Thursday to repeal the state's death penalty, moving it 1 step closer to becoming the 5th U.S. state in 5 years to abandon capital punishment. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 20-16 to repeal the death penalty in an early morning vote after 10 hours of debate, and the measure now moves to the state House of Representatives, where it was seen as having strong support. Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy has promised to sign the bill into law. The measure would replace the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole. An amendment added on Tuesday provided that future felons, convicted of life sentences without parole, would be subject to the same harsh conditions as those inmates currently on death row. "Does a moral society execute people?" asked Democratic state Senator Gayle Slossberg on the day of the vote. "Haven't we then become the evil we're trying to eliminate? I want my public policy to be better than me." But the bill to repeal the death penalty is "prospective," meaning that it would only apply to future sentences. The 11 men currently on Connecticut's death row would still face execution. Several legal experts have said that despite the "prospective" wording, defense attorneys for current Death Row inmates could use the repeal measure to win life sentences for their clients. Illinois, New Mexico and New Jersey have all voted to abolish the death penalty in recent years, while New York's death penalty law was declared unconstitutional in 2004. That state's legislature has repeatedly rejected attempts to reinstate capital punishment. Other state legislatures are considering bills to abolish the death penalty as well, and Oregon's governor has said he would allow no more executions on his watch. "As significant concerns about executing the innocent, the high cost of the death penalty and its unfair application continue to grow, more states are turning to alternative punishments," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. A similar bill was defeated last year in Connecticut, just as the high-profile trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky was getting underway for his role in a 2007 home invasion in Cheshire in which a mother and her 2 daug
