[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Dec. 2 PAKISTANexecutions Pakistan hangs 4 suspected Taliban members over school massacre Pakistani security officials say authorities have hanged 4 militants who were sentenced to death over a Taliban attack on an army-run school last year that killed more than 150 people, mostly children. The 2 officials said the men were executed Wednesday in the northwestern city of Kohat. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. The executions came less than 2 weeks after Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asked the country's president to reject the clemency petitions of the 4 "terrorists." The Dec. 16 attack on the school in Peshawar was claimed by the Taliban and prompted Pakistan to lift a 2008 moratorium on the death penalty. Since then, Pakistan has hanged nearly 300 people, most of them convicted criminals, not militants. (source: Associated Press) *** Peshawar school attacks: Pakistan hangs 4 militants linked to incident The Pakistan government has hanged 4 men linked to Peshawar army school massacre which killed nearly 150 children on December 16 last year. The horrific attacks have left the world shocked at it was one of the most brutal attacks in the Pakistan history. Pakistan Taliban had taken the responsibility of the attacks. The 3 convicts Maulvi Abdus Salam, Hazrat Ali, Mujeebur Rehman and Sabeel alias Yahya had filed mercy pleas to President of Pakistan on November 20. Gen Raheel Sharif signed the black warrants of the 4 convicts who were sentenced to death by special military court established after the school attack for speedy trial of militants, the army said in a statement. After the signing of death warrants, there was no legal bar on the hangings of the convicts. The terror act had brought condemnation even from the close allies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban who claimed responsibility of the attack. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement had said that his group sympathised with the victims. By current hangings brings 300 convicts hanged in the country, upsetting local and international human rights groups. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lifted a self-imposed moratorium on death penalty in terror related cases after this attack. Prime Minister Sharif told an All Parties Conference here that the moratorium on death penalty has been lifted. (source: News Nation) IRANexecutions 7 prisoners hanged in Minab and Zahedan The Iranian regime's judiciary in the southern province of Hormozgan hanged at least 5 prisoners. The 5 prisoners were all sentenced to death allegedly for drug related offences, the judiciary said on Tuesday. Another group of 2 prisoners were hanged on Monday in southeastern Iran in a prison in city of Zahedan. The cycle of suppression, in particular group hangings, continues in Iran after the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted of a resolution condemning rights violation on 19 November. Amnesty International said in a statement last week: "The rate of executions in Iran is deplorable which, if they continue at the current rate, could reach more than 1,000 this year. In case after case we hear allegations of torture, fundamentally flawed trials, all in breach of international law and standards." (soruce: NCR-Iran) SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi death row cleric in 'high spirits': brother Saudi death row Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr is in high spirits despite reports he is at risk of imminent execution, his brother said on Monday after visiting the sheikh. "He's good, very well, high spirits. His health is very good and he is ready for anything, even for death," Jaffar al-Nimr told AFP. The brother spoke after he and several other family members, including Nimr's mother, spent about 1 hour with him at Al-Hair prison near Riyadh. Nimr was a driving force behind protests that erupted in 2011 in eastern Saudi Arabia, where most of the Shiite minority live. The protests developed into a call for equality in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, where many Shiites have complained of marginalisation. Amnesty International said on Thursday that he was among 6 Shiite activists at imminent risk of execution who were "clearly convicted in unfair trials". The London-based human rights group said the 6 were among a total of 50 people who could soon be put to death in a single day. Media "close to the Saudi Arabian authorities" had reported on the execution plans, Amnesty said. Nimr is not concerned by those stories, his brother said, accusing the interior ministry of sometimes issuing reports in order to gauge public reaction. But Nimr's family are still "very worried," he said. Among the other activists who Amnesty said are at risk of imminent execution is Nimr al-Nimr's nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested following the protests for reform. Ali al-Nimr is also
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, MO., COLO, ARIZ., ORE., USA
Dec. 2 OHIO: Hamilton Co. prosecutor criticizes ruling to set aside death penalty for killerRayshawn Johnson convicted of killing neighbor with baseball bat in 1997 Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters is criticizing a decision by the state's high court to overturn the death sentence of a man who beat a Cincinnati woman to death in 1997 during a robbery that netted $50. In a 4-3 ruling Tuesday, the court rejected Rayshawn Johnson's sentence based on his troubled upbringing and his subsequent remorse. Johnson was convicted of killing Shanon Marks with a baseball bat in 1997. He was sentenced to death in 1998, but appealed in 2006. At that time, a federal court agreed with Johnson that he had received ineffective assistance of counsel during the mitigation phase of his trial and instructed the state to either commute Johnson???s death sentence or hold a new mitigation hearing. A new jury recommended death again in January 2012. In Tuesday's decision, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected Johnson's arguments, but in an independent investigation, found that that the aggravating circumstances in the case were not outweighed beyond a reasonable doubt by the mitigating factors. Justice Paul E. Pfeifer wrote that the aggravating circumstances in this case were not outweighed beyond a reasonable doubt by the mitigating factors. Pfeifer described the cumulative effect of multiple mitigating factors, including Johnson's ill-fated childhood, which when considered together made a sentence of death inappropriate. The Court described the evidence presented in mitigation during the hearing. Johnson's mother, who did not testify at Johnson's 1st trial, stated that she had Johnson when she was 16 years old and explained that she often put him in a closet when he was an infant and also gave him prescription drugs and heroin in his bottle or applesauce. When Johnson was 12 or 13, she taught him how to drink and how to take and deal drugs. Johnson's grandmother, who was responsible for him and a younger brother for several years, said she whipped and hit the boys and that drinking alcohol was her priority. A psychologist who evaluated Johnson testified that the defendant was never taught right from wrong. He diagnosed Johnson with a form of depression as well as alcohol and marijuana addictions. Pfeifer reasoned that this dysfunctional, troubled background was entitled to significant weight as a mitigating factor when evaluating the death sentence. The Court also gave some weight to several other issues. The court set aside the death penalty in a 4-3 vote. In reviewing all the factors combined, the Court determined they held "great cumulative weight" to the point that the aggravating circumstances did not outweigh the mitigating issues beyond a reasonable doubt. Acknowledging this was the pointless and inexcusable killing of an innocent woman, Justice Pfeifer concluded, however, that a sentence of death was not appropriate in this case. Deters said the decision affects one's faith in the criminal justice system. He said the attack against Marks was horrific. He says the attack against Shanon Marks was horrific. The case will return to the trial court for resentencing. Johnson faces up to life in prison when he's resentenced. (source: WLWT news) MISSOURI: Missouri lawmakers pre-filing bills in legislature Missouri lawmakers are giving us a 1st look Tuesday at the state issues that could come to a vote in the next year. Tuesday was the 1st day state lawmakers were able to pre-file bills in the legislature. More than 150 bills had already been pre-filed by noon Tuesday. A lot of the bills touch on hot-button issues. Missourians have already seen some of the bills being pre-filed before. A bill that would abolish the death penalty was pre-filed Tuesday and one that would establish stricter guidelines for buying guns. Also up for discussion is a 2 cent gas tax increase for the state. A bill that would outlaw reading, writing or sending text messages while driving was also pre-filed Tuesday. In Missouri right now that's only illegal if the driver is under 21 years old. The bill has been filed in the past and did not make it far. (source: ABC news) COLORADO: Colorado public defenders spent $6.3 million on death penalty casesColorado Public Defender's office spent $6.3 million on 10 cases in which prosecutors filed a notice to see the death penalty since 2002 The Colorado Public Defender's office has spent a combined $6.3 million on death penalty cases during the past 13 years. In response to a request from The Denver Post, the office on Tuesday released its aggregate cost of handling death penalty cases between July 12, 2002 and Oct. 31, 20015. During that time period, public defenders handled a total of 10 cases in which prosecutors filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Most recently, public
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Dec. 2 GLOBAL: Global cities light up at night to highlight the campaign to end the death penalty The Colosseum in Rome and thousands of monuments around the world were illuminated at dusk on Monday as symbols of the campaign to stop the death penalty. Cities for Life Day is held each year on the 30 November to commemorate the 1st abolition of the death penalty by a European state, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1786. This year, 2,031 cities expressed their support for the anti-capital punishment initiative and nearly 400 events were held worldwide. In the UK, events were held in London, Sheffield and Swansea. Rome's Colosseum, the epicentre of the Roman civilisations mass execution culture, was the 1st monument to be lit. The event's organisers, the Community of Sant'Egidio, in Nebraska were present. Nebraska ended the use of the death penalty in May, becoming the 19th US state to abolish capital punishment. However, state residents gathered enough signatures to temporarily reinstate the death penalty until it can be voted on in a referendum in November 2016. (source: thetablet.co.uk) State's attempt to abolish death penalty marked at Rome's Colosseum Rome's Colosseum was lit in honor of the U.S. state of Nebraska's attempt to abolish the death penalty and as part of Cities for Life Day, a worldwide event that supports a global end to capital punishment. The Rome-based lay Community of Sant'Egidio, which is active in a worldwide campaign to eliminate capital executions, sponsors the lighting event every Nov. 30 to highlight its cause. The Colosseum has been a symbol against the death penalty because of its history as a site for gladiatorial combat and executions. Cities for Life Day is held every year to commemorate the 1st abolition of the death penalty by a European state - the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1786. This year, 2,031 cities around the world expressed their support for the Cities for Life initiative, and nearly 400 special events were held worldwide. Sant'Egidio invited to the event at the Colosseum Nebraska State Sens. Colby Coash and Mark Kolterman, who supported the state's repeal of the death penalty, and Sister Helen Prejean, a Sister of St. Joseph and longtime opponent of capital punishment. Also invited was Miriam Thimm Kelle from Nebraska who is active in the fight against the death penalty. Her brother, James Thimm, was murdered 30 years ago, and his killer was given the death penalty, which she has said has offered no opportunity for true healing for victim's families. Nebraska ended the use of the death penalty in May, becoming the 19th U.S. state to abolish capital punishment. However, state residents gathered enough signatures to temporarily reinstate the death penalty until it can be voted on in a referendum in November 2016. Meanwhile, bishops in Australia have been renewing their call for a worldwide ban on the death penalty. While capital punishment has been prohibited in Australia since 2001, Archbishop Denis Hart, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference recently wrote to the federal parliament offering assistance in achieving a global moratorium. Recalling the firm opposition of the church to the death penalty, the bishops' conference said in late October its members were available to work with the Holy See and other national bishops' conferences to influence governments on the issue. In mid-November, Indonesia declared a temporary moratorium on the death penalty, saying the temporary ban was meant to help the country focus more on fixing the nation's economy. The Indonesian bishops had been asking the country's president to reconsider the use of capital punishment, calling it an inhuman form of punishment that was not effective in deterring crime. The death penalty is applied both in law and practice in about 37 nations, including the United States, Japan and China. (source: Catholic News Service) PHILIPPINES: Former DOJ chief frowns at 'death' Senatorial aspirant Leila de Lima yesterday said she is against any move to restore the death penalty. "Restoring death penalty? That's absolutely no for me. As a human rights advocate, I can't allow that," de Lima said. In a press conference in Cebu City, de Lima said that the death penalty will not eliminate crimes or deter criminals. She said that the real deterrent to crime is an effective justice system. De Lima said that if elected into office, she will focus on promoting justice and rule of law, fighting corruption and championing human rights. "Some people called for the restoration of the death penalty because they are frustrated by the continuous heinous crime incidents," she said. Her statement runs counter to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is reportedly running for president. De Lima, former justice secretary, admitted that the justice system may have erred in some
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, CONN., PENN., S.C., FLA., LA.
Dec. 2 TEXAS: A Matter of Conviction Anthony Graves, Houston Forensic Science Center Board MemberExonerated from death row and working for justice, Anthony Graves doesn't have a moment to waste. Anthony Graves is doing remarkably well for a former resident of death row. "I'm a rock star," he says of the way he's treated these days, asking rhetorically: "How do they treat a rock star?" Sitting inside the Houston Forensic Science Center's soon-to-open new offices, he smiles without the slightest hint of irony. Graves, who was wrongfully incarcerated for 18 years - with 12 on death row - faced lethal injection twice before his 2010 exoneration. Today he spends his time trying to fix the criminal justice system that put him there. "It's broke," he says. "But who better to tell you that than the person who saw it fail them from top to bottom?" And fail it certainly did. The Brenham native was just 26 years old in 1992 when he was arrested and charged with the grisly murder of a family of 6 in Somerville, north of Brenham. Robert Earl Carter, his cousin's husband, had told police he and Graves had killed the family together. The day before Graves's 1994 trial, Carter tried to recant, telling the Burleson County district attorney he'd acted alone. But the DA didn't share that information with the defense team, putting Carter on the stand to testify against Graves anyway. After a speedy trial, Graves was convicted of capital murder. Graves remembers being shocked when police brought him in for questioning. "I thought it had something to do with a traffic ticket or something," he says, "and I didn't have one, so I was really in the dark." There he would stay, year after year, waiting, languishing in prison - all the while steadily maintaining his innocence and keeping the faith that justice would prevail. "For 6,640 days, I was always innocent. I never lost hope because that never changed," he says. "I had no choice, because the alternative was to believe they could kill me for something I didn't do." In 2000, before Carter was put to death, he made a statement from the death-chamber gurney, again taking sole responsibility for the murders. "Anthony Graves had nothing to do with it," he said. Minutes later, he was gone. In 2002, University of St. Thomas professor Nicole Casarez and a group of students discovered the case through the Texas Innocence Network, which partners with journalism students at UST and the University of Houston. When they visited him, the 1st thing Graves told Casarez and her students was that he would not try to prove his innocence to them. "Do the work: you'll find out for yourself," he remembers saying. There was, it turned out, scant evidence linking Graves to the murders. In 2006, thanks in large part to Casarez's work, his conviction was overturned. The wheels of justice began to turn, albeit slowly, as Graves continued to sit in jail, awaiting his retrial. Eventually, the state turned to former Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler. In 2010, a year into her appointment, Siegler told reporters Graves had been framed for a murder he did not commit, saying that "after looking under every rock we could find, we found not one piece of credible evidence that links Anthony Graves to the commission of this capital murder." In October 2010, Graves became the 12th person in Texas to be exonerated after a stay on death row, and within eight months he was awarded $1.4 million under a state law that compensates victims wrongfully convicted of crimes. After receiving the money, he didn't even go on vacation. It didn't make sense, he says, "to go out on an island and drink from an umbrella. That's not taking my life back." Instead, Graves would seek justice for others, first as an investigator for Texas Defender Services, assisting attorneys with capital murder cases, and then on his own as a consultant, communications specialist and advocate for a better criminal justice system. He also sought justice for himself, pursuing punishment for former Burleson County DA Charles Sebesta. This June, the Texas State Bar revoked Sebesta's license, ruling that he'd withheld critical evidence from Graves and his attorneys, including Carter's admission that he'd acted alone. "No, I disbarred him," Graves says, pointing out that it was he who filed the grievance. He says he's forgiven Sebesta but wants to see justice applied to the former prosecutor. "I just want to happen to him what would happen to any other person who tried to commit murder in our state," he says, calling what Sebesta tried to do to him "nothing short of attempted murder." In June of this year - just weeks after Sebesta was disbarred - Mayor Annise Parker tapped Graves to become a board member of the Houston Forensic Science Center, the new incarnation of the formerly embattled Houston Crime Lab. Casarez, who was appointed to the same board in 2012,
