[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
October 18 PAKISTAN: Lahore: Zainab's killer hanged but the death penalty 'is not the solution'The execution took place this morning. In January, Zainab, a 7-year-old girl, was abducted, raped, tortured and dumped on a garbage heap. A certain criminal mindset is "well rooted in society". Imran Ali, the 24-year-old man convicted for the murder, rape and torture of 7-year-old Zainab, was executed this morning at the Central Jail Lahore (Kot Lakhpat Jail). The murder of the child, who was on her way to religious class and whose body was dumped on a garbage heap, took place in early January in Kasur (near Lahore). The murder sparked outrage across Pakistan. Many Pakistanis reacted vehemently, complaining pf police inaction. Many activists condemned the crime, noting its relationship to a widespread "culture of rape" that allows crimes to go unpunished. The death sentence was carried our at 5.30 am (local time). The father of the victim Muhammad Ameen, was among the witnesses of the execution. For Human Rights Focus Pakistan president Naveed Walter, speaking to AsiaNews, "hanging someone does not do justice and it is not the solution to the problem". In his Naveed's view, a "long-term strategy" is needed "to bring positive changes in society and in the lives of the victims, children and girls. The inhumane practice [of sexual violence] will not end with the hanging of the guilty, until adequate security measures are adopted for all citizens." Other human rights defenders, who consider capital punishment an appropriate punishment for the guilt committed, disagree. Samson Salamat, president of Rwadari Tehreek (inter-religious movement for tolerance), believes that the punishment imposed on Imran Ali is the way that Pakistan must follow to "increase the scope of justice in an infinity of similar cases in which justice is denied." For him, "It also demonstrates the power of the voice of the people: when the people are on the side of justice, nothing can stop it." Activist and writer Kashif Hussain agrees, noting that Zainab's rape and murder is not an isolated incident. "I have read the newspapers for 30 years and I always find the same crimes that are deeply rooted in our society," he said. "I am astonished when I see that the masses do not rebel. Sometimes I fear going crazy. In our society there are many other Zainabs waiting for justice. We must not stop; we must continue the fight against the evils that afflict society." The activist also points the finger at a certain religious mindset. "When we ask for sex education courses, we clash with the reaction of religious groups". (source: asianews.it) *** Man gets death penalty in murder case A trial court in Karachi on Wednesday convicted a man in a murder case and sentenced him to death after a charge was proved against him. Additional district and session judge (West) announced its verdict which was earlier reserved after recording evidences and final arguments from both sides. The court found Akhtar Perveez alias Babu guilty in murder of Shakeel Ahmed in Orangi area on April 30, 2014. The prosecution has stated that the convict had confessed to kill the deceased, adding that witnesses, produced before the court, had also identified the guilty. An FIR had been registered under Sections 23-1 (a) Sindh Arm Act 2013 at the Orangi Town police station on the complaint of Jameel Ahmed (brother of the deceased). In his statement, the complainant had submitted that in the day of the incident, he was sitting outside a factory, wherein he was working, he heard firing and when he reached to the spot, he saw that Babu was holding pistol in his hand while his brother Shakeel was lying on the ground having injury on his head. Meanwhile, Babu also tried to fire on him, but bullet did not fire from the pistol. So he ran away, while his brother Shakeeel succumbed to death on spot. Thereafter, dead body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. According to the written judgment, the convict was also found in possession of 1 pistol. He also made judicial confession before magistrate. The prosecution had established in the court that the convict fired on Shakeel Ahmed intentionally which hit him on his head and caused his death. The order stated that there was also no dispute as to identify of the accused, because it is also admitted by the accused that they knew each other prior to incident. After going through the perusal of FIR, one can misjudge that the fact of dispute over water had been alleged as a motive, the court was fully satisfied that the dispute of water tap did exist between the families of complainant and accused. Earlier, the defense counsel had submitted his arguments by stating that his client was innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, but he failed to produce any witness in the defense of his client. The court also announce
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, TENN., ARK., MO.
Oct. 18 OHIO: Accused killer of Beavercreek man to be sentenced in Carolina case The man accused of killing a Beavercreek man in front of his children is scheduled to be sentenced for an unrelated case in South Carolina federal court before his potential death penalty case moves ahead in Dayton's U.S. District Court. Sterling H. Roberts, 35, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 28 in U.S. District Court in Greenville, S.C. Roberts pleaded guilty in November 2017 to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to federal court records. Roberts, Tawnney Caldwell and 4 others have been indicted for the Aug. 15, 2017, death of Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, who was shot in Riverside in front of his 3 sons - 1 of whom (Jacob) was missing for a year before being located by law enforcement in August. Roberts and Tawnney Caldwell could face the death penalty if they are convicted as charged. Also charged are Chance Deakin, Christopher Roberts, James Harmon and Chandra Harmon. A hearing Thursday in Dayton's U.S. District Court for Chandra Harmon, Deakin, and Christopher Roberts was continued after an in-chambers conference involving defense attorneys and one assistant U.S. attorney. Multiple defendants have requested and received permission to file motions under seal because of sensitive information. (source: mydaytondailynews.com) TENNESSEE: A Tennessee inmate who won a last-minute reprieve sparing him from execution last week may be running out of options, and a new date with the death chamber could be set as early as the end of the month, court records show. Edmund Zagorksi, who was sentenced to die in 1984 for killing 2 men he robbed during a drug deal, has no new execution date scheduled after the state's plans for a lethal injection last Thursday were cancelled amid a flurry of legal maneuvers. They included a court order that he die in the electric chair, at his request. Those moves may have set back possible execution a few weeks at best. Court filings indicate Zagorski, who has spent 34 years on Tennessee's death row, could get an execution date as early as Oct. 28. Just a day before his previously scheduled execution, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay that could have delayed it for many months. But the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the stay the next day and also declined to hear a separate appeal challenging Tennessee's 3-drug lethal injection cocktail. Meanwhile, a 3rd federal court ordered Tennessee to honor Zagorski's request to die in the electric chair, rather than by lethal injection. Zagorski's attorney said the inmate believes electrocution would be quicker and less painful. That last decision, by a U.S. District Court judge in Nashville, apparently prompted Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to put a temporary halt to the execution. Although inmates whose offenses occurred before 1999 have the option to choose electrocution, under Tennessee law, Zagorski gave the state only 3 days' notice of his choice. But when the Department of Correction said it would go forward with lethal injection, Zagorski's attorneys asked the court to intervene. Correction officials never said whether they would be able to carry out an electrocution on such short notice, but Haslam said in a statement his reprieve would "give all involved the time necessary to carry out the sentence in an orderly and careful manner." Once the 10-day reprieve expires, the Tennessee Supreme Court can set a new execution date. It must be at least 7 days later. Meanwhile, with its stay lifted, the 6th Circuit is fast-tracking Zagorski's case before that venue - a claim of poor legal representation at trial. But it is unclear whether that case could be heard and decided before another execution date. Jurors sentenced Zagorski to death in 1984 after finding him guilty of shooting John Dotson and Jimmy Porter and slitting their throats. The victims had planned to buy marijuana from Zagorski. Prosecutors said Zagorski never had any marijuana but set the men up to rob them and then killed them to cover it up. Zagorski's attorney Kelley Henry has said the legal team is reviewing its options. (source: Associated Press) ARKANSAS: Arkansas justices challenge ethics charges over judge's case Arkansas Supreme Court justices on Wednesday challenged efforts to sanction them over the court's decision to prohibit a judge who participated in an anti-death penalty demonstration from hearing any execution-related cases. The justices filed a lawsuit with their court challenging the charges related to the decision to disqualify Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen from handling any death penalty cases. Justices disqualified Griffen last year, days after he was photographed on a cot outside the governor's mansion last year wearing an anti-death penalty button and surrounded by people holding signs opposing executions. Ear
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, PENN., DEL., N.C., S.C., ALA.
Oct. 18 TEXASnew execution date Execution date set for local man who killed 3 over failing marriage 8 days after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected what could be his final appeal, a Waco state district judge set an execution date Wednesday afternoon for a Central Texas man who killed 3 members of his estranged wife's family in 1989. Billy Wayne Coble, 70, initially refused to enter the courtroom for the sentencing hearing Wednesday afternoon after his appellate attorney failed to show up. Waco lawyer Russ Hunt, Jr. was appointed to represent him in the hearing and State District Judge Matt Johnson set a Feb. 28, 2019 execution date. Coble was convicted in 1990 of killing his in-laws, Robert and Zelda Vicha, and their son, Waco police Sgt. Bobby Vicha, at the family's Axtell home After shooting the three, Coble kidnapped his estranged wife, Karen Vicha, threatened to sexually assault and kill her, but was injured when he crashed his vehicle during a police chase in Bosque County. Coble has a list of appeals, the only 1 successful filed in 2007 with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that resulted in the dismissal of the death sentence and an order for re-trial on punishment after the court's opinion stated Coble’s jury faced 2 questions that were unconstitutional. The punishment re-trial ended with the same result, a death sentence. A retired police officer who worked on the Coble case and a current district judge who back then was a prosecutor and who took Coble to trial on the capital murder case for the 1st time were among a few dozen people who crowded into the 54th District Courtroom on Wednesday to watch the hearing. After a few minutes the judge asked one of the bailiffs why Coble wasn't in the courtroom and the bailiff said he was refusing to leave the holding cell. Johnson sent a squad of bailiffs to retrieve Coble, but they reported he refused to come to the courtroom, after which Johnson called the case, read the preliminary documents concerning the appeals Coble has filed since his conviction, and then set the date. Truman Simons, a former police officer, sheriff's deputy and now a private investigator, worked on the Coble case back in 1989. "He killed his (father-in-law) 1st and wrapped him up in a rug," Simons said. "Then he tied up the 2 kids and shot Bobby Vicha. "Then he ...waited in the garage where he killed Zelda (Vicha) and kidnapped (his estranged wife) Karen," Simons said. Former McLennan County Assistant District Attorney J.R. Vicha, o1 of the 2 children Coble tied up that day, was only 11-years-old at the time his family was murdered. The boy, along with 2 of his cousins, were tied up inside the home while the killings took place. During the 2008 punishment re-trial trial, prosecuted by retired Assistant District Attorney Crawford Long, Long told the jury that Coble "has a heart filled with scorpions." (source: KWTS news) Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present37 Executions in Texas: Dec. 7, 1982present-555 Abbott#scheduled execution date-nameTx. # 38-Oct. 24Kwame Rockwell556 39-Nov. 7-Emanuel Kemp, Jr.---557 40-Nov. 14Robert Ramos558 41-Dec. 4-Joseph Garcia-559 42-Dec. 11Alvin Braziel, Jr.-560 43-Jan. 15Blaine Milam--561 44-Jan. 30Robert Jennings---562 45-Feb. 28Billy Wayne Coble---563 (sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin) *impending execution Kwame Rockwell Will Be the Next Disabled Person Executed by AmericaAmerica's courts still don't have clear protections for defendants with severe mental illness. Unless last-ditch appeals are successful, the next person to be executed in the United States of America is going to be Kwame Rockwell. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has scheduled his execution for October 24th. The state had planned to execute Rockwell along with another prisoner, Juan Segundo, but Segundo's death was stayed by the Texas Court of Appeals. Together, the cases epitomize deep problems with enforcement of the death penalty. Both prisoners are people of color in a state where prosecutors overwhelmingly only seek the death penalty against non-white offenders, and both are disabled. Segundo has an intellectual disability, and last year the Supreme Court finally established clarity around diagnostic standards required to exempt people with such conditions. Rockwell has schizophrenia. His lawyers didn't bring it up at trial, and appeals courts refused to consider his condition. America still doesn't have clear protections for people with severe mental illness. These 2 cases in T
