[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ALABAMA
May 8 ALABAMAimpending execution Urgent Action EXECUTION RE-SET AFTER 30 YEARS ON DEATH ROW Thomas Arthur, aged 75, is due to be executed in Alabama on 25 May. This is his 8th execution date since 2001, 3 times coming within a day of being killed. He maintains his innocence. This would be the 1st execution under the current Alabama governor Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet: * Noting Thomas Arthur has not asked the governor for clemency, but calling on her to stop his execution; * Noting that during the time that Thomas Arthur has been on death row, evidence of arbitariness and error in the US capital justice system has mounted, and the use of the death penalty has declined as concern has grown; * Noting his disproportionate punishment compared to the other persons said to be involved in the murder; * Expressing concern that the state has blocked advanced DNA testing in this case. Friendly reminder: If you send an email, please create your own instead of forwarding this one! Contact below official by 25 May, 2017: Governor Kay Ivey Alabama State Capitol 600 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, Alabama 36130 USA Fax: +1 334 353 0004 Email: http://governor.alabama.gov/contact (use US detail) Salutation: Dear Governor ___ A service courtesy of Washburn University School of Law www.washburnlaw.edu DeathPenalty mailing list DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty Unsubscribe: http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/options/deathpenalty
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
May 8 SINGAPORE: Singapore to enforce death penalty for nuclear terrorism acts A person who commits a fatal act of terrorism using radioactive material or nuclear explosive devices will face the mandatory death penalty under new laws passed in Parliament on Monday (May 8). The legislation paves the way for Singapore's ratification of the United Nations' (UN) International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). Second Minister for Home Affairs Desmond Lee said that while the likelihood of a nuclear terrorist attack in Southeast Asia was remote, the rise of terror group Islamic State means Singapore cannot discount such a scenario and must treat the threat seriously. "Especially when many countries, including those in our region, use nuclear energy, or are actively exploring the use of nuclear energy," he added. "In February this year, Malaysian authorities arrested 8 people connected to the theft of Iridium-192, a radioactive material which can be used to make dirty bombs." It will now be a criminal offence to intentionally and unlawfully use any radioactive material or nuclear explosive device, or use or damage a nuclear facility leading to the release of radioactive material, to achieve the effects of terrorism. The penalties will be pegged at the same level as a murder offence in the Penal Code and therefore, in the event of death caused, lead to the gallows, said Mr Lee, adding that in any other case, life imprisonment will be the punishment. The new laws also provide for extra-territorial jurisdiction - meaning any person outside Singapore who commits an act which constitutes a nuclear terrorism offence if carried out in Singapore, is deemed to have committed the act here, said Mr Lee. "If taken into custody, the person would be charged, tried and punished accordingly in Singapore. This provision allows us to prosecute the offender in Singapore, if it is not possible or desirable to extradite him," he explained. "It ensures that perpetrators do not escape punishment, regardless of which country they are from, and where they committed the offences." But Singapore must also facilitate extradition requests by the 109 other countries who are parties to the Convention, and provide mutual legal assistance with its domestic framework. "WE TAKE THE POSSIBILITY SERIOUSLY" Mr Lee later told the House that Singapore has, over the years, been preparing and developing to deal with the risks of nuclear terrorism. "Agencies such as NEA (National Environment Agency) and SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) have developed the necessary operational capabilities to deal with illicit use of nuclear and radioactive material in Singapore," he said. "MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and NEA have also been working together to tighten security measures at premises storing high-risk radioactive material." To begin with, Singapore has a strict regulatory regime put in place by NEA to make it hard for radioactive material to end up in the wrong hands, said Mr Lee. "On import, valid permits are required for all cargo entering our port checkpoints - if necessary they will be subject to X-ray screening and radioactivity checks," he added. "Thus far, we've not detected any breaches involving radioactive material in Singapore." An inter-agency committee continually assesses the threat of nuclear terrorism in Singapore, and in the event of an attack, there will be processes to deal with possible scenarios. "Should such an incident occur, MHA will coordinate a whole-of-Government response," Mr Lee outlined. "SCDF will render assistance to casualties and contain the radioactive material, assisted by our armed forces where necessary. NEA will provide technical advice to help mitigate harm. The police will investigate the act, find the perpetrators and take them to task." He added: "Beyond efforts from agencies, Singaporeans will need to be prepared for an attack." Authorities may have to evacuate people from affected areas, and members of public may also need to be trained on how to reduce inhalation of harmful substances. "There are no immediate threats, but we take the possibility seriously," said Mr Lee. "It is timely we put in place the necessary legal framework now and join the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms - including nuclear terrorism." (source: channelnewsasia.com) PHILIPPINES: Countries urge PH not to revive death penalty; In Geneva, UN member-states remind a Philippine delegation that reviving the death penalty is against international laws which the country had signed United Nations member-states on Monday, May 8, urged the Philippine government to abandon its plan to restore death penalty. They reminded the Philippine delegation to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) being held by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, that the
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----IND., ARIZ., NEV.
May 8 INDIANA: Indiana Supreme Court denies death penalty statute appeal The Indiana Supreme Court turned down the request of a Gary man accused of killing 7 women to look at the constitutionality of the state's death penalty statute before he goes to trial. The Post-Tribune (http://trib.in/2oLRQMT ) reported the court denied 46-year-old Darren Deon Vann's request Thursday, following suit with rulings in previous challenges in other Indiana cases. Vann argued the statute possibly violates the U.S. Constitution's 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. His defense attorneys argued in their appeal request that the issue should be addressed before a trial is set because "Vann should not have to wait until the jury is unable to recommend a penalty before he may challenge a statute that he believes to be unconstitutional and deprives him of his constitutional rights." They also argued making a pre-trial decision could save Indiana taxpayers a great sum of money. The defense said the decision impacts not only Vann but "every other pending death penalty case in Indiana." Between 1977 and Nov. 7, 2016, 97 people have been sentenced to death in Indiana, and 11 people are currently on the state's death row, according to a brief by an attorney with The Promise of Justice Initiative. Vann's defense attorneys called on the New Orleans nonprofit to provide an opinion on the appeal. Any further doubts can be raised in a direct appeal following Vann's trial "so that this Court can decide it within an actual - and not hypothetical - set of facts," the court said in its ruling. Vann's appeal request delayed the case going to trial and any additional requests could delay it for many more months or years. Vann has a status hearing Friday in Lake County to discuss pending matters in his case. Aside from hearings and filed documents, a gag order prohibits those involved in the case from commenting outside of court. (source: WHIO news) ARIZONA: Trial to begin in death of girl who was padlocked inside box Members of a Phoenix family awoke nearly 6 years ago a disturbing discovery in their home: A 10-year-old girl who lived there was found dead inside a padlocked plastic storage box, a punishment for having stolen a popsicle. Authorities say 2 adult relatives are responsible for making Ame Deal get into the box the night before and had fallen sleep without letting her out. One of Deal's cousins, 28-year-old Sammantha Lucille Rebecca Allen, goes on trial Monday on murder and child abuse charges stemming from the child's 2011 death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Allen and her husband, 28-year-old John Michael Allen, who is scheduled to be tried on Aug. 7 on child abuse and murder charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. The 10-year-old's death was the cruel culmination of a history of abuse that authorities say a handful of relatives heaped on her. She was forced to eat dog feces, crush aluminum cans barefoot, consume hot sauce and get in the storage box on other occasions. Deal also was kicked in the face, beaten with a wooden paddle and forcibly dunked after being thrown in a cold swimming pool, investigators said. Authorities say Deal was treated more harshly than other children at the home, and her family members characterized her as a liar and thief. "Several forensic interviews were conducted on relative children," investigators wrote in court records. "The common theme is, Ame is bad, Ame lies, Ame steals, Ame is not allowed to play." Three other relatives, including an aunt who served as her legal guardian, are in prison serving sentences for abusing Deal. Child welfare authorities in Arizona said they didn't receive any reports of abuse before her death. Police said child welfare reports from Utah, where the family lived before moving to Phoenix, listed Deal as an abused child. John Curry, one of Sammantha Allen's attorneys, and lawyer Gary Beren, who represents John Allen, didn't return calls seeking comment. Prosecutors with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to comment. Investigators say John Allen padlocked the girl in the box as a force of punishment for the popsicle theft. Adults at the home originally claimed she hid during a late-night game of hide and seek and wasn't found until 6 or 7 hours later. The box was less than 3 feet long, less than a foot wide and a foot deep. Deal stood about 4 feet tall and weighed nearly 60 pounds. Deal's mother left the family years earlier after suffering abuse from relatives and moved to Kansas without taking her daughter with her. David Deal, who is listed on Deal's birth certificate as her biological father, is serving a 14-year sentence after pleading guilty to attempted child abuse. Ame Deal's legal guardian at the time of her death was her aunt, Cynthia Stoltzmann, who is serving a 24-year prison sentence for a child
