[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
August 31 IRANexecutions At Least 2 Prisoners Hanged on Drug Charges At least 2 prisoners were reportedly hanged at Ardabil Central Prison on drug related charges. According to close sources, the executions of "Fardin Hosseini" and "Massoud Vaizadeh" were carried out on the morning of Wednesday August 30. Fardin and Massoud were reportedly held in prison for more than 4 years before they were executed. The 2 men were reportedly convicted in the same file and sentenced to death each for the charge of manufacturing 3 kilograms of crystal meth. "Fardin was a chemical engineer and had no previous criminal record," an informed source tells Iran Human Rights. The execution of prisoners with drug related charges continues in Iran at the same time that the Iranian Parliament has approved a bill to stop drug related executions. The bill must be approved by Iran's Guardian Council before it can be passed. * Sunni Prisoner Hanged on Moharebeh Charges Sunni prisoner Seyed Jamal Seyed Mousavi was reportedly hanged at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison on Wednesday August 23, but his famliy did not find out until Sunday August 27. According to close sources, it was the prison authorities who confirmed Seyed Jamal's execution to his family. The day before his execution, Seyed Jamal's family were reportedly able to meet him for a brief visit. Close sources say the Iranian authorities buried Seyed Jamal's body in a location unknown, even to his family. A week before his execution, Seyed Jamal was held in solitary confinement, but he was returned to his cell on Tuesday August 22, only to be taken back to solitary confinement on the same day and executed on Wednesday. Seyed Jamal Seyed Mousavi was reportedly arrested in 2008 by the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj and was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court for the charge of "Enmity against god through cooperation with Salafi groups". (source for both: Iran Human Rights) NORTH KOREA: Seoul condemns N.K.'s threat to execute S. Korean reporters South Korea's unification ministry on Thursday strongly condemned North Korea's threat to execute Seoul reporters for allegedly insulting its leadership. North Korea's Central Court said that it will hand down the death penalty to 2 reporters and 2 chiefs of 2 South Korean conservative newspapers, claiming that they seriously disgraced North Korea's dignity with what it called their false reports. "The criminals hold no right to appeal and the execution will be carried out any moment and at any place without going through any additional procedures as soon as the objects are confirmed," a court spokesman was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency. The Ministry of Unification called on the North to immediately stop such intimidation. "North Korea's threats in response to journalists' ordinary acts of reporting constitutes a serious violation of freedom of the press and an intervention in the South's affairs," it said. "This does not help an improvement in inter-Korean ties at all. We sternly warn that North Korea should end its threat to our nationals." The ministry said that the government remains firm in defending national security and its people's safety. "The government will take necessary measures to guarantee the safety of South Korean nationals," it added. (source: yonhapnews.co.kr) VIETNAM: Russian woman, 30, faces execution for smuggling 3kg of cocaine into Vietnam 'after drugs were planted in her hand luggage by her Nigerian lover'Maria Dapirka, 30, was caught with 3kg of cocaine on a flight from Singapore A 30-year-old Russian woman accused of being a cocaine mule faces the death penalty in Vietnam. But Maria Dapirka, who has already written a 'farewell letter' to her mother, claims she was set up by her lover who posed as a top footballer. Her lawyers have said she has accepted she may soon be executed, but still clings on to some hope she will be freed after 3 years in prison. Dapirka, who lived in Thailand when she met her lover, known as Nick, was caught with almost 3kg of cocaine by Vietnamese customs on a flight from Singapore. She said the cocaine was planted in her luggage by Nick - or 'Chib Eze' - who apparently has a penchant for seducing attractive young women before conning them into carrying drugs. Dapirka's verdict and sentence was due to be handed down by a Vietnamese judge today in a Ho Chi Minh city court but the session was postponed 'for further investigation' for the fifth time. In a letter to her mother Olga, a desperate Dapirka said she was ready for any decision by the court. She wrote: 'Don't worry about me. I am fine. I am ready for any end. 'I hope you will manage to visit me. 'I've not seen you for 4 years. I miss you so much! Please take good care of your health.' Her lawyer Sunkar Nurmagambetov said: 'We have received
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., FLA., ALA., LA., OHIO, NEV., CALIF., USA
August 31 TEXASstay of impending execution Bexar County delays execution because of Hurricane HarveyHurricane Harvey has delayed the execution of a San Antonio man. Bexar County officials withdrew the execution date because part of the man's defense team works in the Houston area. A man sentenced to death in San Antonio and facing execution next week had his death delayed due to Hurricane Harvey. The execution of 36-year-old Juan Castillo was scheduled for next Thursday, but a Bexar County judge issued an order Wednesday delaying the man's death for 3 months because some of his defense team works in the Houston area, which has been devastated by flooding from the storm. The request to move the execution didn't come from the defense, but from the Bexar County District Attorney's Office. "A portion of Mr. Castillo's defense team resides and works in Harris County and the surrounding areas, and has been affected by Hurricane Harvey," wrote Bexar County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Matthew Howard in the motion. "...Under the extraordinary circumstances, the State would move to withdraw the execution date and seek a new date." Castillo's new execution date is now set for Dec. 14, granting him an extra 3 months of life in his prison cell, where he has lived almost 12 years. In 2005, Castillo was convicted in the 2003 robbery and murder of Tommy Garcia, Jr. in San Antonio, according to court records. Prosecutors said Castillo and 3 others planned to rob Garcia after luring him to a secluded area with the promise of sex with one of the women involved in the plan. But when Garcia tried to run, Castillo shot him, according to the accomplices. There have been 5 executions in Texas this year. The next one is scheduled for Robert Pruett on Oct. 12. (source: The Texas Tribune) *** Student murder suspect gets another capital charge The man charged with killing NE student Molly Matheson has been indicted in another capital murder in North Texas. Reginald Kimbro, 24, is accused of killing and sexually assaulting Megan Getrum, 36, of Plano within days of killing Matheson. Matheson's body was found in her garage apartment near the Texas Christian University campus April 10. On April 14, Fort Worth police interviewed Kimbro. During the interview, he admitted the 2 used to date and that he had been in her apartment the night she was killed. He said he left after a few hours and had nothing to do with her death. Police didn't arrest him at the time, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The same day, it is believed Getrum disappeared while out hiking in the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, close to where she lived, according to the affidavit. Her body was found nearly 30 miles away in Lake Ray Hubbard April 15 but was not identified until her family reported her missing. Police found Kimbro's DNA on both women's bodies, court records say. Kimbro has since been charged and indicted in both cases for capital murder. Given that the deaths occurred in 2 different counties, they are being prosecuted separately by 2 different district attorneys. With a charge of capital murder, a guilty verdict automatically carries a death sentence or mandatory life in prison without parole. On Aug. 10, Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson said in a statement that Kimbro will face the death penalty if convicted. Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson has not yet said whether she intends to seek the death penalty or life without parole when she tries Kimbro. However, Johnson said she intends to find a just resolution for Getrum's and Kimbro's families. "We continue to pray for Megan Getrum's family. We also continue to pray for the family of Molly Matheson of Fort Worth," Johnson said in a statement. "We believe that justice will be served in both of these cases." If Johnson seeks the death penalty against Kimbro, it will be the 2nd time she's made that choice since becoming Dallas County's DA in 2016. In addition to Matheson and Getrum's murders, police in Plano and South Padre Island believe Kimbro is linked to 2 other rapes that involved choking, in 2012 and 2014, according to the affidavit. The 1st assault happened in September 2012 in Plano. Kimbro was never arrested in the case because the victim didn't want to pursue charges, Plano police said. The 2nd assault allegedly happened in March 2014 in South Padre Island. Kimbro claimed the sex was consensual, and the charges were dismissed, according to the affidavit. However, in June, the Cameron County District Attorney indicted Kimbro on an aggravated sexual assault charge from the 2014 incident. The DA has not said why the office is pursuing the case now. Following Kimbro's indictment in the South Padre rape, Matheson's family released a statement saying, "We are pleased that the South Padre District Attorney's
