[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

June 22



ENGLAND:

Hangman's box used by Bradford-born executioner is focal point of new 
exhibition



A hangman's box, used by Bradford-born executioner Albert Pierrepoint, is the 
focal point of the latest exhibition at the Bradford Police Museum.

The box, which contains the executioner's paraphernalia including rope, noose, 
restraints and cap, is thought to have been used in the hangings of serial 
killer John Christie and Derek Bentley, who was hanged for the murder of a 
police officer but pardoned 45 years after his death.

It is believed to be the only one in existence and is now taking pride of place 
at the museum's summer exhibition, 'Shadow of the Noose, the story of 
Bradford's Hangmen.' The exhibition features the stories of famous hangmen, 
including the Pierrepoint family and former Bradford police officer James 
Berry.

The box was kept at Wandsworth Prison from the 1950s and its contents were used 
by Albert Pierrepoint, and other hangmen, until the abolition of the death 
penalty in the 1960s. The box would be moved from prison to prison and the 
procedures for carrying out executions were strictly laid down.

The exhibit has been loaned to the police museum by the Galleries of Justice 
Museum in Nottingham which houses the prison service's historical collection.

Museum director Martin Baines said: "One of our volunteers, Allan Cox, came 
across the box while researching the history of Bradford's famous hangmen in 
the Galleries of Justice Museum. Due to the link with Albert Pierrepoint and 
our special 'Shadow of the Noose' exhibition, they very kindly agreed to lend 
us the box and its contents for our temporary display.

"We are delighted and privileged to be able to exhibit such a significant and 
important item and we hope the people of Bradford will take the opportunity to 
come and see it."

The museum is open for general admission every Friday, between 11am and 3pm, 
and every Saturday between noon and 4pm.

The museum is located in Bradford City Hall and provides a unique insight into 
the history of policing, criminal justice, civic enforcement and the 
development of crime and punishment in Bradford from the early 19th century 
onwards.

It is situated on the site of the original 19th century police station in City 
Hall which was operational between 1874 and 1974. The museum gallery covers the 
history of policing from the inception of the Bradford Borough Police force in 
1848 up to the present day.

Visits to the museum include guided tours of the original Victorian cells and 
court built in 1873 which formed part of the original police station.

Visitors can stand in the police cell that the famous escapologist Harry 
Houdini escaped from, and climb the dock steps Victorian courtroom.

Victorian police truncheons, uniforms, swords, weapons, memorabilia, crime 
scene exhibits and unique photographs covering 150 years of policing in the 
city are on display.

(source: Bradford Telegraph and Argus)








TAIWAN:

Stabbing-spree victims plead for death penalty for murderer



As debate over whether to preserve or abolish the death penalty heats up, 
victims of a 2014 knife attack were seen at the Taipei High Court yesterday, 
begging the judge to sentence Cheng Chieh to death.

In May 2014, Cheng bought a 30-centimeter-long knife and randomly slashed 
passengers on the Taipei Metro as the train drove from Longshan Temple Station 
to Jiangzicui Station. He took 4 lives and injured 22 others, shocking society 
with his cruelty during and after the killings.

The public were not only terrified, but also enraged. While many insisted that 
Cheng should "get what he deserves as soon as possible," the majority of people 
began to discuss what had caused a college student to commit such a heinous 
crime.

His parents, classmates and teachers all had fingers pointed at them to take 
blame for Cheng's possible mental illness. A consensus was never reached, 
however, the public become extremely attentive to the debate over capital 
punishment.

On March 6 of this year, the New Taipei City District Court handed Cheng 4 
death sentences after he was found guilty of 4 counts of murder; Cheng was 
further convicted of 22 counts of attempted murder for which he was sentenced 
to a total of 144 years imprisonment.

(source: China Post)