[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ALABAMA
May 25 ALABAMAimpending execution Stay lifted; Tommy Arthur to be executed tonight The U.S. Supreme Court's stay of execution has been lifted for convicted Muscle Shoals murderer Tommy Arthur. Arthur is set to be executed late Thursday. Arthur was originally scheduled for death by lethal injection at 6 p.m. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay within an hour of that time. The stay was lifted after about 10:30 p.m. Arthur, 75, was convicted of the 1982 murder for hire of Troy Wicker in Muscle Shoals. He has maintained his innocence all along and had already dodged execution seven times before Thursday. His attorneys tried to delay execution an eighth time by filing paperwork claiming there are potential problems with the drugs used during execution. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the stay request. The motion then went to the Supreme Court where it was signed by Justice Clarence Thomas. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall then filed a motion for the stay to be lifted. Arthur declined to eat his breakfast or his last meal on Thursday. He requested family photos in the execution room with him. (source: WSFA news) ___ 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 25 IRAN: Execution of man arrested at 16 exposes Iran's disregard for child rights Iran has demonstrated its utter disregard for children's rights by executing a man arrested for a crime committed while he was 16 years old in a brazen violation of international human rights law, said Amnesty International. The man, who has been identified in state media only by the name "Asqar", was sentenced to death by public hanging nearly 30 years ago. He was executed at Karaj's Central Prison near Tehran on 23 May 2017. "With this execution, the Iranian authorities' repeated claims to the UN and EU that they are moving away from the use of death penalty against juvenile offenders ring horrifically hollow. It is absolutely appalling that 2 decades after it ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran continues to display such a chilling disregard for children's rights," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. "This is the 3rd execution this year of someone arrested as a child in Iran, demonstrating the authorities' clear determination to continue flouting international human rights law. The authorities should halt any further plans for executions and amend Iran's Islamic Penal Code to abolish the use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders once and for all." "Asqar" was originally sentenced to death in 1988 after being convicted of the fatal stabbing of his 12-year-old neighbour, according to state media. The sentence was later upheld by the Supreme Court. He was due to be executed at the age of 18 but escaped from prison shortly before the scheduled execution date; he was on the run until his re-arrest in April 2015. Iran is one of the last few countries in the world that still executes juvenile offenders. International human rights law strictly prohibits the use of the death penalty against a person who was under 18 at the time of the crime. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty at all times - regardless of who is accused, the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution. The organization has consistently called on all countries that still use the death penalty to establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the punishment. (source: Amnesty International) GAZAexecutions Hamas executes 3 over commander's murderThe Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas executed 3 people in the Gaza Strip on Thursday over the assassination of 1 of its military leaders allegedly on behalf of Israel. 2 men were hanged to death in Gaza City over the killing of Mazen Faqha in March, while a 3rd was executed by firing squad, said an AFP correspondent who attended the executions. Hundreds of people were allowed to watch the executions, though the streets around the site were closed to the public. 1 of those executed, Ashraf Abu Leila, was named as the alleged assassin while the other 2 men, who were not named, were convicted of assisting him. The executions, which come only 2 weeks after the announcement of their arrests, were immediately condemned by human rights activists. Human Rights Watch said the "rush" to kill the men "smacks of militia rule, not the rule of law". Mazen Faqha was shot dead on March 24 near his house in Gaza City. He had been in charge of forming cells for Hamas's military wing in the occupied West Bank. Hamas immediately blamed its arch-enemy Israel, with which it has fought 3 wars since 2008, and implemented strict border restrictions on those seeking to leave the Palestinian enclave. (source: al-monitor.com) ___ 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 25 SUDAN: Urgent Action HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FACING DEATH PENALTY Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is now facing 6 charges 2 of which may result in the death penalty or life imprisonment if he is convicted. Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was arrested on 7 December 2016 and is being detained for his human rights work in Sudan. Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet: * Urging the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Edris Eldoma; * Urging them to ensure that Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Edris Eldoma are granted access to their lawyers, families and adequate medical treatment; * Urging them to investigate allegations that Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Edris Eldoma were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and ensure that they are not subjected to further torture and other ill-treatment pending their release Friendly reminder: If you send an email, please create your own instead of forwarding this one! Contact these 2 officials by 6 July, 2017: President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir Office of the President People's Palace PO Box 281 Khartoum, Sudan Salutation: Your Excellency Ambassador Maowia Osman Khalid Embassy of the Republic of Sudan 2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202 338 8565 Fax: 1 202 667 2406 Email: sudanembass...@sudanembassy.org Salutation: Dear Ambassador (source: Amnesty International) PAKISTAN: Man awarded death penalty for murdering relative A court ruled death sentence to an accused involved in a murder case in Sargodha the other day. The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Javed Iqbal Ranjha. The prosecution told the court that accused Sheikh Muhammad, a resident of Bhakkar, and his son Azhar Hussain had gunned down their relative Amir Shahzad over a domestic dispute in 2015. The local police had registered a case against the accused and presented the challan before the court. After hearing the arguments, the judge handed down death sentence to Sheikh Muhammad along with a fine of Rs0.2 million as compensation money. However, the judge acquitted Azhar Hussain over lack of evidence. (source: Pakistan Today) MALAYSIA: Stop executions and abolish the death penalty - Malaysian Bar The Malaysian Bar is deeply troubled that 2 persons - Yong Kar Mun, aged 48, and an individual whose identity has not been reported - were executed by hanging at Sungai Buloh Prison yesterday morning. The prison authorities there had written to the family of Yong Kar Mun on May 19, 2017 to inform them that he would be hanged to death soon, and that they could pay him a final visit on May 23, 2017. Yong Kar Mun had been convicted under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for discharging a firearm when committing a robbery, and the mandatory death penalty was meted out. The Malaysian Bar is appalled that the 2 executions yesterday bring the total of reported executions this year to 4: Rames Batumalai, aged 44, and his brother Suthar Batumalai, aged 39, were reportedly executed at Kajang Prison on March 15, 2017. Every individual has an inherent right to life - as enshrined in Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution - which is absolute, universal and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that have been committed. We do not condone or excuse any crimes that have been committed. There is no denying that guilty persons ought to receive punishment, and justice must be served. However, to be just and effective, punishment must always be proportionate to the gravity of offences committed, and the State must never resort to taking a human life. Furthermore, studies have shown that there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty. The death penalty is an extreme, abhorrent and inhumane punishment, and must not be taken lightly, as it is irreversible. The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Government to act swiftly to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, stop executions, and commute each death sentence to one of life imprisonment. (source: This statement is submitted by George Varughese, president of the Malaysian Barthemalaymailonline.com) SRI LANKA: Restoring the death penalty after a long lapse? People support, or oppose the death penalty for a wide range of reasons. At one extreme are those who believe that executions are inherently right as an expression of society's revulsion at murder, and that society is morally justified in exacting this retribution. At the other end of the spectrum are those whose oppose executions on equally deeply felt moral or religious grounds, or because they find profoundly repugnant the deliberate pre-planned execution of a prisoner by servants of the state. No argument is likely to affect those firmly committed to either of these positions. In between, however - and this will be the large majority
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----MONT., USA, US MIL.
May 25 MONTANA: Cop killers deserve death penalty I just wanted to say that if anyone could have the audacity to take the precious life of a police officer, or anyone else for that matter, then that person obviously has no regard for life itself. The individuals who recently took a deputy's life exhibited the coldest, cruelest and most callous actions that even animals don't exhibit. They're beyond animals though. Any good ideas out there as to how this man should be dealt with? I'm thinking "an eye for an eye" would be 110 % justifiable. At least this way the taxpayers would be spared the expense of caring for and housing this worthless waste of oxygen, pile of cow dung. It's too bad that this officer's children have to unnecessarily grow up without their father. The whole family will be hurting for many years after this piece of trash is dead and thankfully gone. I hope he dresses warm, because he's going straight to hell. Jail might cheer him for what he's done, but it's not gonna do him any good where he's going. Shawn Carmen, Missoula (source: Letter to the Editor, The Missoulian) USA: With A Retail Partner, Anti-Death Penalty Movement Can Smell SuccessThe often-ignored issue finds a fragrant angel in Lush as it hopes to add mainstream support to every shopping bag. On a recent spring evening along the Magnificent Mile, a cluster of shoppers gathered amid heaps of organic soap and fizzy bath bombs to engage in a decidedly less effervescent topic: the death penalty. Lush, the activist-minded cosmetics company, was kicking off an anti-capital punishment campaign at its Michigan Avenue store, complete with speakers, including a death row exonoree, and a mini-documentary about wrongful convictions. Lush launched a special edition of its signature product, the bath bomb, to raised funds for the campaign, and it has drawn the notice of Teen Vogue, the beauty and lifestyle site Refinery29 and others. At a store where customers typically come to sample beauty products or maybe enjoy a bachelorette party, neither the setting nor the audience was typical of the traditional anti-death penalty contingent - and that's exactly what advocates want. Anti-death penalty advocates have looked to recent successful social justice movements as a blueprint. The goal, they say, is for the anti-death penalty movement to make the same progress as issues such as marriage equality and environmental protection, and to move from a back-burner issue to wider acceptance. "We used to be in a lot of churches and vigils exclusively," Diann Rust-Tierney, executive director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said at the Chicago event (the NCADP is a beneficiary of the campaign). "But now, opposition to the death penalty is the mainstream. Why not have it here?" Such partnerships seem poised for success: Activists can capitalize on a company's broad reach and mainstream status to amplify and normalize a message, while the company can align with an issue that reinforces its identity at a time when a brand taking a socially conscious position is not only common but even advantageous. Rust-Tierney said at least 20 national organizations - from pharmaceutical companies to the travel, entertainment and tech conglomerate Virgin - have taken a stance against the death penalty. "What Lush is doing is taking an activist position against the death penalty, and they feel that's consistent with their corporate mission, which has been involved wth social justice for some time," said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit that compiles and analyzes data on capital punishment. Dunham agrees that, by all indications, the anti-death penalty movement has edged its way into mainstream acceptance, as polls show. The younger you are ... you're more likely to wonder why there even is a death penaltyRobert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center "The phenomenon is not new, but it is emerging now that you have it associated with a product that has broader commercial appeal," Dunham said of Lush's effort. "A restaurant is one thing, when you have a small but reliable clientele. A company that sells products to the general public is a different story. But it's part of the same phenomenon that shows the trend continues to evolve." Though support for the death penalty remains strong, particularly among older and more politically conservative people, it has fallen over the past few decades: 80 % of Americans backed the death penalty in the mid-1990s, according to Gallup polling; last year, support had fallen to 60 %. Dunham notes that anti-death penalty support is in part generational. "It's more like the issue of marriage equality and climate change, where the younger you are, more often than not it???s not even an issue - you're more likely to wonder why t
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, PENN., FLA., ALA., OHIO, KY.
May 25 TEXAS: Was a convicted murderer incompetent to stand trial - 6 years ago?Fort Bend County jurors wrestle with a rare retrospective question Albert James Turner was convicted in 2011 of murder in the deaths of his mother-in-law and wife. The jury sentenced him to death - a choice made only every few years in Fort Bend. The case returned last week to the same courtroom with the same judge, the 268th District Court with Judge Brady Elliott, to take on an issue Turner's defense argued should have been addressed in the first place. The question before the jury was not whether he committed the crimes, cutting the throats of his relatives. Rather, the issue at hand was dubbed "retrospective competency," meaning jurors had to decide whether evidence showed Turner had not been mentally fit for trial. It was "a case that's not normally one we take up," the judge told the jurors. Judge Elliott had denied a request for a competency trial 6 years ago. A state appellate court had now granted it to Turner, allowing a chance at a totally new trial if jurors found him incompetent. Stakes were high. Turner's appellate defense attorney, Amy Martin, believed Turner was delusional. Turner felt convinced his attorneys had conspired against him, Martin said. And this illness might have affected his decision to testify originally, a fateful choice that perhaps influenced the jury to sentence him to death, rather than life in prison. That possibility, Martin said, was "not something we could stomach." Competency refers to one's ability rationally to understand proceedings in court. It is a different question altogether from whether someone was insane at the time of the crime. It deals instead with whether defendants can reasonably consult with their attorneys and understand the charges being brought against them. Evaluating a defendant for competency before a trial begins is fairly standard procedure. Doing so retrospectively is not. Several mental health professionals evaluated Turner before his trial began, court records show. One conducted an evaluation in May 2010, and the other in June. Both found him competent. If they had not, he could have been sent to a hospital for rehabilitation. Still, the question of his mental faculties didn't stop there. Turner became a detriment to his own defense, said Patrick McCann, his attorney at the time. "Time dragged on," McCann said. "He got worse." On April 15, 2011, defense attorneys filed a request for a trial on Turner's competency. 3 days later, on the 1st day of jury selection, the judge denied it. But the defense persisted, and on May 6, the judge ordered 1 more evaluation, this time by the county's director of behavioral health services. After a 30-minute conversation during which Turner remained standing, she concluded his functioning had not significantly changed. The case went to trial. Turner testified. The jury sentenced him. An appeal followed, and the higher court decided he deserved the competency trial after all - leading to last weeks' proceedings. Testimony continued to midday Thursday, when the 12-person jury heard closing arguments. Proesecutor Fred Felcman painted the case as woefully lacking in the expected indicators, such as family speaking of his illness or physicians having treated him. He said a defendant didn't have to help his attorneys. "This is not what you thought it was going to be, was it?," Felcman said. Martin argued that even though Turner wasn't curled up in a corner or foaming at the mouth, he still had a mental illness. She insisted he had a delusional disorder, which could be hard to detect. "He didn't have a disagreement with his attorneys," she said. "He had a break with reality." Turner refused to be in the courtroom. A video camera allowed him to watch proceedings from jail. The jurors made a decision in 2 hours. Members of the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office sat in the room, as did Darren Frank, whose sister and mother were the people Turner killed. Frank had cared for his sister's 4 children since the murders. He said he felt a little surprised to see Turner's case return to Fort Bend and had prepared for whatever the outcome would be. His main priority, he said, was supporting the children. "Even one day, if [Turner] dies, it can't bring back what we've lost," Frank said. "I have to remove myself from the situation and just really focus on them and how I can help them." Cases like these didn't come around every day. Martin, who wrote the appellate brief, said she knew of only one other, from 2012 in Harris County. The judge read Turner's verdict. They jury said Turner had been competent. His appeal will continue. (source: Houston Chronicle) PENNSYLVANIA: Prosecutor seeking death penalty against man accused in 4-year-old's death A Butler County man accused in the death of his girlfriend's young son was in c
