[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 20



BELARUS:

Statement by the Spokesperson on a death sentence in Belarus


"A death sentence was handed down on 20 November to Ivan Kulesh by the Hrodna 
Regional Court of the Republic of Belarus. The European Union expects that Mr 
Kulesh's right to appeal will be fully guaranteed.

Mr Kulesh was convicted for serious crimes and we extend our deepest sympathy 
to the family and friends of the victim of these crimes. Nevertheless, the 
European Union opposes capital punishment in all cases as it cannot be 
justified under any circumstances. The death penalty is a cruel and inhuman 
punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable 
denial of human dignity and integrity.

The European Union urges Belarus, the only country in Europe still applying 
capital punishment, to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first 
step towards its abolition."

(source: europa.eu)






INDIA:

SC paves way for trial of 3 in Beant Singh's murder


The Supreme Court today paved the way for trial of three accomplices of Babbar 
Khalsa militant Jagtar Singh Hawara, the mastermind in the killing of Punjab 
Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, by asking its Registry to send judicial 
records to the trial court.

A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and V Gopala Gowda, which has been 
hearing the appeal of the CBI seeking death penalty for Hawara, serving life 
term in the case, directed the apex court registry to send case records back to 
the Chandigarh Sessions Court concerned for initiation of trial against 
co-accused Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjeet Singh Bheora and Devi Singh.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the CBI, told the court that the 
trial in the Beant Singh's murder has not concluded against Tara, who was 
arrested earlier this year after he had escaped from Burail jail at Chandigarh 
in 2004.

He said the additional sessions judge has sought records of the case in order 
to proceed with the trial as they are presently with the apex court registry. 
Kumar requested the Bench to direct the registry to send the records to the 
trial court.

Taking note of the submission, the court deferred the hearing on the plea of 
CBI, which had sought death penalty for Hawara saying the offence fell under 
the category of 'rarest of rare' cases.

It is also hearing the appeal of Hawara, lodged in Tihar jail here, against the 
trial court decision awarding jail term for remainder of life.

In 2004, Hawara had escaped from maximum security jail at Burail in Punjab 
along with Tara, Bheora and Devi Singh by digging a 90-feet tunnel with bare 
hands. Jagtar Singh Hawara and Bheora were re-arrested within the next 2 years.

(source: tribuneindia.com)

***********

HC acquits ''tantrik'' facing death penalty


Setting aside death penalty awarded by a district court, the Orissa High Court 
acquitted a tantrik of Jajpur district who was charged with human sacrifice of 
an 8-year-old boy 5 years back.

Justice Vinod Prasad and Justice Raghubir Dash yesterday quashed Jajpur the 
district session court s death sentence and upheld the appeal of the 'tantrik' 
Pitambar Goipoi of innocence setting him free of murder and other related 
charges.

The bench annulled the lower court s verdict on the ground there was lack of 
clinching evidence in the case.

District judge Jivan Ballav had in August this year convicted the tantrik of 
abduction and murder of infant Srikant Bag and sentenced him to death.

Sukinda police had retrieved the beheaded body of Srikant from a deserted place 
in Damodarpur village on February 13, 2010, two days after he went missing.

Police subsequently recovered the infant s head along with some puja materials 
from a deserted place near the tantrik s house.

On a complaint from the boy s relative that the tantrik had sacrificed the boy 
to propitiate the local deity and public outrage, police arrested him.

While the 'tantric' could not defend the case in the lower court by engaging a 
lawyer, the High Court had appointed an amicus curiae to conduct his case.

(source: Press Trust of India)