[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Sept. 20 SUDAN: Sudan's sovereign council decides to drop death penalty against 8 militants Sudan's Sovereign Council on Thursday decided to drop the death penalty against 8 members of an armed group in Darfur. "The council decided to drop the death penalty against 8 members of Sudan's Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdul-Wahid Nur," Mohamed Al-Faki Suleiman, spokesman of the council, told reporters. According to him, the council also decided to release 18 prisoners of armed groups. He added that a committee assigned by the Sovereign Council has been in contact with the armed movements from Sudan's Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions to implement the agreement reached prior to a round of peace talks. On Sept. 11, Sudan's government and the armed groups signed a declaration of principle and agreed to hold peace talks on Oct. 14 to address the war issues in the country. The declaration was reached after talks held in South Sudan's capital Juba between representatives of the Sudan government and the armed groups, under a mediation initiative by South Sudan's president. The 2 sides also agreed to form specialized committees to arrange for the peace negotiations, follow up procedures of releasing the prisoners of war, as well as supervise measures of cessation of hostilities. (source: xinhuanet.com) PHILIPPINES: Reform or execution I have been wanting to write about the Bucor (Bureau of Corrections) controversy. There are questions in my mind that I have been meaning to ask because what I read in newspapers or online articles are never that complete. What I know for a fact is that controversy or scandal is a recurring event in New Bilibid Prison. The very place where criminals are imprisoned, both as a punishment and a way to protect the public from them – ironically appears to be a major headquarters for ongoing criminality around the country. It can even seem that there are no bigger organized crime organizations than the ones being run from the NBP. Reviewing historical events that have marked Bilibid as a persistent source of controversy or scandal, it is inevitable that we reach one conclusion. If major criminals can run their organizations from prison, then prison officials have either been neglectful or complicit. The latter is more probable. Constant neglect is easier to correct than systemic corruption – anywhere. The mess in Bilibid has not been corrected, but its corruption has been quite effective. If I had more time and inclination, I would do more detailed research of the thread of controversies and scandals that have accompanied the New Bilibid Prison in its long history. Fortunately, I have neither more time or inclination. What I remember is enough. And not so much about the details, but more of the bitter aftertaste. Somehow, when the gory details of corruption are momentarily forgotten, the filth sticks to the soul. What does one do when something has become an uncontrollable menace to society? Well, many leaders in government that are mandated to address the menace, like illegal drugs, simplify matters and push for the return of the death penalty. Even before the reinstatement of the death penalty, the official war on drugs by the national government is already very bloody. Like the New Bilibid Prison history, I do not have the time or inclination to research on the body count. Whether it is 10,000 or 30,000, is it really more important than the fact that people are killed? When the details are forgotten, the stink of blood is retained by the nostrils. My thoughts simply associate a solution that is copied from the official recommendation of the Executive Branch – the death penalty. Why not apply the death penalty to the New Bilibid Prison. If the corruption is more powerful than any appointee, why not execute the New Bilibid Prison? If no administration has the fortitude of waging a relentless and winnable war against an establishment and system that has become a monster, why not sentence it to death? If reform has become an impossibility, what other option is there? It is important to choose between reform or execution. Whichever direction we take will demand its own pathway, very different pathway. History, however, favors the death penalty in the case of the New Bilibid Prison. The rate of failure of reform is not only dismal, it is total. The monster has not been tamed, it has grown stronger and more innovative in corrupting the appointed reformers. It can even be speculated, from the long line of failed reformers, that the monster influences even the many layers of appointing powers. Reform is not impossible, but it is improbable considering everything. It is difficult to bring a crucial part of our society’s security on a path of improbability. Organized crime is supposed to be dismantled, not nurtured. Let us look at how it has been over the last several decades,
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, ALA., KY., TENN., MO., CALIF., ORE., USA
Sept. 20 TEXAS: 1 Year Later: The trial of alleged BP serial killer Juan David Ortiz Editors Note: 1 year later, the Laredo Morning Times is taking a look at the fallout from the serial killings that shook the Gateway City to its core last September. LMT reporters talked to the families affected the most after the series of murders and a resulting investigation ended with the arrest of Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz. One year later, the aftershock from the crimes can still be felt in Laredo. Ortiz appeared in court for a bond hearing on April 28, but his first attorney, Joey Tellez, asked for more time to amend the application seeking bond reduction. The hearing was reset for Aug. 8, but it was delayed and will be held Oct. 3 in 406th District Court Judge Hale's court. Webb County District Attorney Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz said the state is seeking the death penalty. Unlike other murder cases, capital murder is a murder case that factors in other elements, such as the circumstances of the case and how serious it was. Capital murder includes killing someone under the age of 10, killing police officers or firefighters while carrying out their duties, or killing multiple people in the same episode. 1 Year Later This story is 1 section of a 6-part series that details the fallout of the serial murders that affected the Gateway City last September. "The decision to seek death is always a sensitive decision, because there's a lot that goes into that decision," Alaniz said. "It's punishment reserved for the most egregious, the most heinous and horrific murders that take place." When it comes to motive, Alaniz said Ortiz made statements about the victims' work, but that more aspects of the motive will appear as the trial goes on. "There were statements made by him, and I know people always want to know the reason why someone did something," he said. "That's something that we will eventually develop in the trial. It's complicated." Alaniz said anything can happen between now and 2021. With capital murder, he said the jury must answer two questions to determine either the death sentence or life without parole: if there are any mitigating factors or if the suspect is a future danger. "Is there a probability this person will commit crimes in the future?" he asked. "Mitigating factors go to circumstances surrounding the case: medical history, mental history, diseases, defects, other types of issues that the jury can consider." Ortiz is held at a $2.5 million bond, and it is up to the judge to decide when or if there will be a bond reduction hearing. "We will continue to argue that the bond be maintained at that amount," Alaniz said. "We consider him a danger to society, and we consider him a flight risk, just by the nature of the offense and the punishment." (source: Laredo Morning Times) ALABAMAfemale may face death penalty Lauderdale County capital murder suspect appears in court ? -- The suspect could be facing more charges. A capital murder suspect in Lauderdale County, Peggy Hall, went before a judge Thursday morning. The district attorney's office says she killed her ex-husband, Randall Bobo, at his home on County Road 130. Hall is being held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center. She is being held without bond right now, and she could face additional charges. It's unclear what those could be yet. The district attorney said they charged her with capital murder, because she came into Bobo's home with the intent to burglarize the place, and then ended up shooting him. The district attorney says grandchildren saw it all happen. Bobo and Hall have 2 adult children together, and the prosecutor says all of that will factor into how they proceed. "This is death penalty eligible, so we've got to make that decision in the next coming days and weeks if we will ask for the death penalty. It's certainly early in the investigation. We know what happened with the actual murder, but there are still some other items that need to be checked out," Chris Connolly, the Lauderdale County District Attorney, said. He also said once the investigation is complete, Hall could be facing more charges. In court Thursday morning, the judge read Hall's charges to make sure she understands them. She has a court-appointed attorney. We're waiting to hear when her next court appearance will be. (source: WAAY news) KENTUCKY: Should people under 21 be eligible for the death penalty?The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether the death penalty should be an option for those ages 18-21. The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Thursday over whether the death penalty should be an option for those younger than 21 in the state (it is already banned for those under 18 nationwide). The death penalty is a contentious issue across the United States; some argue we shouldn’t have it at all,
