[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Jan. 2 SINGAPORE: Vietnamese developer detained in Singapore seeks passage to Germany A Vietnamese property developer detained in Singapore is seeking passage to Germany to avoid being sent back home, where he could face the death penalty amid a crackdown on corruption, his lawyers said on Tuesday. Phan Van Anh Vu, 42, who is wanted in Vietnam for revealing state secrets, according to media, was detained in Singapore on Thursday as he tried to leave for Malaysia, said Remy Choo, one of at least three lawyers engaged by Vu's family to represent him. Choo and another lawyer in Singapore, Foo Chow Ming, said they had been unable to contact Vu, and on Tuesday filed an application in Singapore's High Court to try to gain access to their client. A 3rd lawyer told Reuters he had filed an application to German authorities to allow him to go there. "I have made an application for Germany to accept him," said Victor Pfaff, a lawyer in Frankfurt. Germany's foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Singapore has no extradition treaty with Vietnam, but its immigration authority has the power to repatriate people under certain circumstances, according to the city-state's Immigration Act. "My client's family is concerned there is an imminent risk of repatriation to Vietnam," said Choo. Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said last month it was seeking the arrest of Vu, a developer in the communist state's central city of Danang, where the local leadership was shaken up after corruption accusations last year. Vietnamese media quoted police as saying Vu was wanted for revealing state secrets. They did not say what these related to or whether that was linked to his role as a property developer. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and its Ministry of Home Affairs did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Vietnam's foreign ministry also did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Vu's detention in Singapore and whether Hanoi had sought his extradition. Serious security offences, such as revealing state secrets, can carry the death penalty in Vietnam. Singapore also has the death penalty for some crimes. Singapore has close diplomatic and trade ties to Vietnam. This year, Singapore is also chairing the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping, which has sought to strengthen regional cooperation. Dozens of Vietnamese officials and business figures have been arrested in a crackdown on corruption that has gathered pace since the security establishment gained greater sway in the ruling Communist Party in 2016. The crackdown grabbed world headlines last year when Germany accused Vietnam of kidnapping a former oil executive to return him home to face trial. (source: Reuters) BANGLADESH: Prosecutors seek death for Zia's son in grenade attack case The prosecution Monday demanded death penalty for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia's son for his alleged role in the 2004 grenade attack that killed 24 people and injured 300 others, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a media report said. Tarique Rahman, the BNP's senior vice president who lives in exile in London, is accused in 2 cases of murder and blasts for planning the attack in which more than 10 grenades were thrown in a rally organised by Hasina's Awami League party when she was in opposition and Zia was in power. Among the dead was Ivy Rahman - the wife of late president Zillur Rahman and then Mohila AL president. Chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman demanded death sentences for Rahman and 48 others, including the then-home minister Lutfozzaman Babar and chiefs of major intelligence agencies while wrapping up the argument at a Speedy Trial Tribunal here, the Daily Star reported. The state counsel had submitted arguments after observing testimonies from 245 witnesses on December 27. The court had fixed January 1 for the defence and the state to present their arguments. Justice Shahed Nuruddin adjourned the case till tomorrow when the defence, led by state-appointed lawyer Chitanya Chandra Halder, would present their argument, the report said. There were 52 accused in the case of which 23, including Babar and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, are behind the bars. Former Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) Ashraful Huda, Sahudul Haq and Khoda Boksh Chowdhury, Lt Commander (retd) Saiful Islam Duke, former investigation officers Special Superintendent Ruhul Amin and Senior ASP Munshi Atikur Rahman and ASP Abdur Rashid were among the 8 who are out on bail. While 18 other accused, including Rahman, BNP leader Harish Chaudhary, former lawmaker Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Major General (retd) A T M Amin, and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Saiful Islam Joarder are still absconding. Apart from these, 3 accused - Jamaat leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Mufti
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----FLA., ARIZ., CALIF., USA
Jan. 2 FLORIDA: Man accused of killing stepson appears before judge A Hillsborough county stepfather who is facing charges of child abuse and murder, could also be met with the death penalty. Jack Montgomery had his 1st appearance hearing Monday morning after investigators say he brutally beat a 7 year old to death. He's being held on a total of $870,000 bond. The judge agreed with prosecutors who argued the details of this case and Montgomery's past domestic violence issues were too much to ignore. "This is a case based just legally that Mr. Montgomery is looking at the death penalty," said prosecutor Matthew Smith with the State Attorney's office. "He was taking care of those 4 children while the mother was out working a double shift." Officials say Montgomery was babysitting the 4 kids at the Masters Inn hotel in Seffner, where the family was staying. Early Saturday morning, they believe Montgomery started punching his stepson, Brice Russell, and throwing him into furniture in the room. When talking with investigators, Montgomery admitted to disciplining the child because he tried sneaking out of bed for a cookie, but claims he threw him on the bed and that the child was alive when he went to sleep. Prosecutors though aren't buying his story. "He chose to not only physically discipline this child himself repeatedly by punching and throwing him on the ground but threatening bodily harm upon the 2 brothers if they did not partake and equally discipline him," said Smith. According to an affidavit, the other children witnessed the alleged abuse. Prosecutors say Montgomery put Brice in bed and had the other children lay with him, but officials believe the child was dead by that time. "Mr. Montgomery took the child put him in bed and had the siblings sleep with him while Brice was dead the entire night," he said. A judge disagreed with Montgomery's attorney who asked for a bond no more than $20,000 on his murder charge and instead gave him a bond of $750,000. Prosecutors say his criminal past which includes domestic violence should play a role in whether Montgomery should walk free before his trial. (source: Fox News) *** Death penalty sought in Jupiter triple homicide case The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty against a 2nd man arrested in a Jupiter triple homicide on Super Bowl Sunday. Marcus Steward, 25, is charged with 3 counts of 1st-degree murder with a firearm, 1 count of attempted 1st-degree murder with a firearm, and 1 count of grand theft of a motor vehicle. Police arrested Christopher Vasata for the same charges in March. Sean Henry, 26, Brandi El-Salhy, 24, and 20-year-old Kelli Doherty were shot to death during a Super Bowl party on Feb. 5 on Mohawk Street in Jupiter River Estates. The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office filed a notice to seek the death penalty against Steward on Friday. Jupiter police say DNA evidence linked Steward to the killings. He's currently being held without bond. (source: WPTV news) ARIZONA: California man pleads not guilty in death of Mohave County inmate A California man has pleaded not guilty in the death of his cellmate at Mohave County Jail. Gaven Robel is charged with 1st-degree murder in the beating death of 41-year-old Kingman resident Ryan Couch. The 2 shared a cell for a few days last month. The 25-year-old Robel entered his plea Thursday in superior court. He faces natural life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors have not said whether they'll seek the death penalty. Robel originally was jailed on charges related to his alleged role in a Bullhead City opioid ring. The Needles man is being held on a $5 million bond. His next court hearing is in late February. (source: Associated Press) CALIFORNIA: 2018: The Year of the Executioner? Editor's note: Kevin Cooper was convicted of a 1983 quadruple murder and sentenced to death in a trial in which evidence that might have exonerated him was withheld from the defense. His case was scrutinized in a June 19 New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Visit savekevincooper.org for more information. Many years ago, Protestant pastor and poet Martin Niemoller famously wrote of the Nazi era: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me." I, Kevin Cooper, am not a murderer, but I am speaking out against murder, whether at the hands of people or, even worse, at the hands of the government. As this new year begins, the state of California, because of the voters' approval of Proposition 66, finds itself closer to resuming executions, or, in the
