[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Sept. 4 IRANexecutions Iran hangs 4, 2 were flogged before being executed 2 prisoners were hanged on Sunday, September 3, 2017, in central prison of Tabriz, northwestern Iran. The victims identified as Darush Rashidi and Kazem Shiri had been sentenced to death and 100 lashes for rape. They were flogged in prison yard before being executed. "The death penalty for these 2 prisoners had been suspended several times over the past few years due to ambiguities, but was eventually issued again," according to an informed source. A prisoner identified as Adel Karimi, over 50-year-old, was hanged at dawn on the same day, in central prison of Ardebil, northwest Iran. He was found guilty of murder. Adel Karimi had been on death row 6 years in this facility. In another development, another prisoner was executed on August 30 in Parsilon Prison of Khoram Abad in western Iran. The victim identified as Mohammad Mirzaei was found guilty of murder. These executions have not been made public by the state media to this date. (source: Iran Human Rights Monitor) *** Iran re-imposes death sentence on spiritual figure that supreme court quashed An Iranian court has re-imposed the death penalty on the founder of a spiritual movement after the 1st sentence was struck down by the supreme court, the judiciary said on Sunday. Mohammad Ali Taheri, founder of Erfan Halgheh which calls itself "Interuniversalism" in English, was arrested in 2011 and given 5 years in prison for "insulting Islamic sanctities". He was sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court in 2015 for "corruption on earth" but the Supreme Court later quashed the sentence. "(Taheri's) case was sent back to court and tried with the presence of a lawyer and various advisors and the judge has again reached," Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying by the news agency ISNA. The sentence can be appealed, he added. Amnesty International says Taheri is a prisoner of conscience and has condemned Iran's use of capital punishment "for vaguely worded or overly broad offences, or acts that should not be criminalized at all". Tehran dismisses such criticism as part of an effort from the West to heap political pressure on the Islamic Republic. (source: Reuters) SINGAPORE: Vigil held for man who was sentenced to death deemed as possible offence of assembly without permit Malaysian national Prabagaran Srivijayan was executed by the state in the early morning of Jul 14, years after multiple attempts failed to overturn his death sentence in 2014 for importing heroin into Singapore. Hangings in Singapore are always carried out on Fridays at dawn in Changi Prison, and it was outside the prison that 15 people gathered to hold a vigil for the young man. The group that congregated consisted of Prabagaran's family and friends, all of whom stood solemnly in solidarity. One of the attendees was none other than local journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han, whose group We Believe In Second Chances has spoken out to oppose the execution of the young man (and many others before him). According to Han, the police dropped by the vigil to break up the crowd and film the whole thing, taking candles and photos along with them when they left. No explanation was provided, though the group was allowed to stay on as long as they didn't light any more candles or set up photos. It was only yesterday (Sep 3) that Han found out she might be in trouble for taking part in the vigil. According to her account on Facebook, police officers showed up at her door to hand her a letter stating that she is required to assist in their investigations regarding "an offence of Taking part in a Public Assembly without Permit". It's part of the Public Order Act that basically outlaws protests without permit in Singapore. It's considered an offence if there are 2 or more people assembled for the purpose of (i) demonstrating support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; (ii) publicizing a cause or campaign; or (iii) marking or commemorating any event. Vigils may or may not be considered a chargeable offence, but it may take a different form, considering that it???s a gathering of people standing in solidarity for an individual impacted by the politically controversial death penalty. By its definition itself, vigils are peaceful demonstrations in support of a particular cause. Han notwithstanding, imagine the distress felt by the family members of Prabagaran who might've also received the letter - they'll have to deal with a police investigation on top of mourning his death. "...when a simple, nonviolent, quiet vigil for a man about to be hanged by the state is deemed an illegal assembly worthy of a police investigation, perhaps it is time to think about whether we are striking the right balance between
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., FLA., ALA., OKLA., IDAHO, NEV., ORE.
Sept. 4 TEXAS: Austin has too few defense lawyers for death penalty cases Capital murder cases are demanding of attorneys, who sometimes spend 400 hours on them. If participation continues to dwindle, the county might have to go elsewhere to find lawyers. When you see one at the courthouse, the other usually is nearby. Allan Williams and Steve Brittain, friends for decades, are among a handful of Travis County defense attorneys who are approved to represent indigent defendants in death penalty cases. Both are 68 and not long from turning in their courthouse badges and retiring. And that's a concern, according to observers, who point to a shortage of up-and-comers ready to replenish the roster. "It's dwindling," state District Judge Julie Kocurek said. Capital murder cases chew up big chunks of time - 400 hours, sometimes - which might be the biggest reason just 9 attorneys in Austin have applied and been approved to represent the indigent defendants in the 21 capital cases pending in Travis County. Williams has 3 of them and Brittain 2. They're teaming up on another one. "It's challenging," Brittain said. "It might be a little like childbirth. You forget how bad it is, and then you want to do it again." The vast majority of capital murder defendants are indigent and receive free legal representation that's paid for by the county. Hoping to recruit reinforcement attorneys, Kocurek, chairwoman of a judicial region that covers 26 Central Texas counties, put together a symposium Thursday that attracted about 45 lawyers to the Austin Bar Association building for education on the finer points of capital law. Why should the public care? Because, says lawyer Ariel Payan, there will be significant costs to taxpayers if the county has to cast a wider net and bring in attorneys from other counties. Payan's docket includes 9 capital cases - 4 with him as lead counsel - plus another one in Waco. Increasing the stable of capital-approved attorneys "would be a benefit," he said. "We need capable people," he said. "The last thing you want is to convict an innocent person or have to try a case again because the trial attorney screwed up." Lawyers who defend those charged with capital murder are paid $150 per hour by the county. On the low end, they'll make $30,000. But more complicated cases can reach $60,000. There are 20 attorneys in Travis County who are approved to provide 2nd-chair assistance in indigent cases. Simple murder rises to capital murder - and puts the death penalty on the table - when the defendant is charged with an associated crime such as robbery, kidnapping or aggravated sexual assault. A conviction triggers an automatic sentence of life without parole. Unless, of course, the state seeks death. Unlike other areas in the state that dole out far more death sentences - Texas' 543 executions outnumber the next 6 states combined - Travis County generally prefers life sentences. The most recent death penalty case was for cop killer Brandon Daniel, who a jury decided should die after finding him guilty in 2014 of the 2012 shooting of Austin police officer Jaime Padron. District Attorney Margaret Moore has yet to pursue the death penalty in her eight months on the job but says she's in favor of execution when it's appropriate. 2 defendants accused in separate slayings at the University of Texas fail to satisfy the state's criteria for death. Meechaiel Criner was 17 in April 2016, when he is accused of strangling UT student Haruka Weiser. Kendrex White, who authorities say killed Harrison Brown in a random stabbing spree in May, is not charged with any associated crimes that would bring capital charges. It's not uncommon for a death penalty trial to last a month, with jury selection alone eating up 2 weeks. Lawyers press 120 or more jurors on their feelings about the death penalty. Invariably, Brittain said, a juror will comment that he looks exhausted. "Yes, ma'am," Brittain responds, setting up the punch line. "I'm 35 years old." (source: Austin American-Statesman) NORTH CAROLINA: Husband Admits to Killing Wife After Taking Too Much Cold Medicine "She didn't deserve this." "I can't believe this." Not the sort thing you'd expect to hear from a person who admits to killing their wife, but that's what Raleigh, North Carolina man Matthew James Phelps told 911 dispatch Friday. He said he stabbed his wife Lauren Ashley-Nicole Phelps to death after taking too much cold medicine. "I have blood all over me and there's a bloody knife on the bed, and I think I did it," he said. "I can't believe this." Phelp said he took the medicine because he had trouble sleeping. He seemed to be crying as the 911 dispatcher tried to help save Ms. Phelps' life, if possible. "Oh my God," the suspect said. "Oh God. She didn't deserve this. Why?" We have reached to the Raleigh Police Department for comment. Jail records
