[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 3



GLOBAL:

see: 
http://www.worldcoalition.org/video-terry-kupers-solitary-confinement-death-row-torture-penalty.html)

(source: worldcoalition.org)






EGYPT:

Verdict for Hosni Mubarak 'war crimes' delayed until November


The judge charged with sentencing Egypt's fallen dictator Hosni Mubarak 
postponed the verdict on Saturday in a court session which seemed to suggest 
that the former president may be acquitted of his most serious charges. The 
delay caused more protests by supporters and opponents alike.

Mubarak and his former security chief Habib El-Adly are being retried over the 
killing of demonstrators during the 18-day uprising which forced their 
resignation in 2011. They were found guilty and sentenced to life in 2012, but 
the conviction was overturned on technical grounds.

Judge Mahmoud Kamel al-Rashidy explained the difficult nature of his task, 
saying he needed more time to deliberate over the 160,000-page case file.

Court and television viewers were shown a film by private pro-regime channel 
Sada al-Balad in which a pink-clad presenter combed through the stacks of case 
files. The case was postponed to November 29.

Mubarak is currently being held in a military hospital due to medical 
conditions. The murder of protesters has been a difficult link for prosecutors 
seeking the death penalty for Mubarak, calling his actions "war crimes."

The 2011 protests escalated and led to the death of many protesters and police, 
but Mubarak calling for the execution of protesters is debated.

Supporters and opponents of Mubarak have been protesting outside the Cairo 
court, where the former Egyptian president is being tried. Both groups are 
angry that the verdict was postponed yet again.

"The judge is hesitating, it's a tough decision and he's obviously not that 
strong. How come he sets a date for verdict and postpones?" Mubarak supporter 
Pusy Mohamed said to CNTV.

"We are not against the judge's decision, but Mubarak is 86 years old, when 
they first said the verdict is in 40 days, we thought he might not make it. Now 
it's 2 more months,??? Mubarak supporter Azza Abdallah said.

(source: The Global Dispatch)






JAPAN:

Court finalizes death sentence for man over 3 murders in Tokyo, Yamagata


The Tokyo High Court on Thursday turned down an appeal against a death sentence 
by a man convicted of 3 murders in Yamagata and Tokyo.

Katsumi Asayama, 48, was arrested in 2012 for murder and arson following the 
death of 76-year-old Michiko Otsuka in Tokyo's Koto Ward in November 2011. In 
2013, he was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court, but appealed the 
sentence.

The court heard that Asayama was also responsible for a fire that caused the 
death of 71-year-old Takeyoshi Yamaka and his wife Kazuko, 69, in Yamagata in 
October 2010, TBS reported.

According to investigators, the Yamakas' then 43-year-old son lived for a time 
with Asayama and his wife, Sayuri, 44, at their property in Nagoya. The son 
left after being subjected to violence by Sayuri, who was also arrested in 
connection with the Tokyo case.

Prosecutors said that Asayama went to Yamagata in September 2010 and forced the 
son to come back to Nagoya with him. The fatal fire occurred the next month. 
The son again left the Asayamas' property and filed a complaint with the 
police.

Meanwhile, in the Otsuka case, police said that her son had also stayed for 
some time with the Asayamas at their Nagoya home. According to police, the man 
tried to leave several times, but was repeatedly tracked down and brought back 
by Asayama.

In November, 2011, Asayama - posing as a local government official - visited 
Otsuka to ask for information on her son???s whereabouts. Police said that he 
killed her and burned the place down in retaliation for her son leaving his 
home.

Video camera footage has placed the Asayamas' car, with its Nagoya license 
plate, outside Otsuka's home, the court heard.

(source: Japan Today)