[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 17



PAKISTAN:

Plea rejected: Saulat Mirza to be hanged



The Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk on Tuesday rejected Saulat Mirza'a plea through 
which he had urged the Supreme Court to revisit its review about his death 
penalty. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had awarded death sentence to Mirza in 
1999 on charges of murdering the former managing director of Karachi Electric 
Supply Corporation, Shahid Hamid, along with his driver, Ashraf Brohi and 
guard, Akbar Khan, in July 1997, in DHA, Karachi.

On Tuesday, the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed in his chamber the hearing 
of Mirza's plea who had urged the court to remove objection of the Registrar's 
office. The registrar's office had refused to entertain the plea on grounds 
that a review cannot be revisited. Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for Mirza, 
appeared before the Chief Justice and pleaded that his client may be allowed to 
file some additional evidence. The Chief Justice turned down the plea of Mirza 
on grounds that a review cannot be revisited in a matter twice. Mirza's death 
warrants have been issued for March 19 (today).

PPI adds: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday threw out a petition seeking transfer 
of a convict, Saulat Mirza from Balochistan's Mach jail to Karachi. The SHC 
division bench directed the Balochistan's home secretary and IG police to 
ensure no hurdle is created in meeting of the convict with his family at the 
Machh Jail.

The SHC bench had dismissed the appeal of the convict in 2000 whereas the apex 
court had also upheld the SHC ruling. The convict's mercy appeal had also been 
rejected by the president. The petitioner, Nighat, a sister of the death row 
convict, had moved the court seeking his transfer from Mach jail to Karachi 
Central Prison. The petitioner through her counsel submitted since the family 
members of Saulat were living at Karachi, hence they were unable to go to 
Balochistan to see the convict at Mach Jail.

(source: Business Recorder)








NIGERIA:

'14-year old husband killer won't escape justice'



The prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, canvassing death penalty for 
14 years old child bride, Wasila Tasiu, who allegedly killed her husband and 3 
others, via poisoning, has told a Kano High court, Gezawa that the suspect 
could not escape justice through back door.

The position of the prosecuting counsel came on the heels of a no-case 
submission by the defence counsel, Hussaina Aliyu Ibrahim, who urged the court 
to acquit and discharge the accused person.

According to him, the 14-year-old bride had been standing trial over the past 
10 months, for allegedly killing her husband and 3 others, through the 
application of rat poison on a local delicacies she served her late husband.

The prosecution lawyer informed the court not to evaluate his evidence, given 
the fact that the defence counsel was yet to begin his defence.

While arguing over the issue, the state counsel noted that "the issue about the 
credibility of our witnesses does not even arise because the law said the 
testimony of our witnesses should only be treated on case value."

Abba Soron Dinki cited Supreme Court judgement on Agbo versus the state in 2013 
that "a no case submission should be determined within the narrow compass of 
the legally admissible evidence produced by the prosecution and as such should 
be based on a case value."

He submitted that the no-case submission couldn't stand in the case under 
review, adding that such step would pave the way for the accused persons to 
escape justice through back door.

The court has, however, reserved ruling for March 31, on whether Wasila Tasiu, 
has a case to answer under the law or not.

The presiding Judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya, in his ruling said, that "the 
court hereby fix March 31st for ruling on the application by the defence 
counsel on the no-case submission on behalf of Wasila Tasiu."

(source: The Tribune)