[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 5



INDIA:

Lower courts handed more death sentences


While local courts handed 136 death sentences last year, almost twice the 
numbers given in 2015, acquittals by higher courts tripled, a new study has 
found.

The "Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics 2016" prepared by the 
Delhi-based National Law University (NLU) also said that there are 397 
prisoners on the death row in India.

The country's sessions courts appeared more inclined to award death sentences 
as there was a 94% rise in death penalties in 2016, a substantial jump compared 
to 2015 when there were only 70 judgements awarding the capital punishment.

Also, considering the significant number of acquittals and commutations by the 
higher courts, questions have been raised over the local courts' rationale in 
handing death sentences.

In 2016, high courts commuted 44 death sentences, as against 15 in 2015, while 
the Supreme Court commuted 7 death sentences against just 1 in the year before.

Also, the high courts acquitted 14 people last year - against 3 the year before 
- and confirming the sentences of 15, while the apex court freed 3 death 
convicts as against none in 2015.

A Private Member's resolution moved by CPI MP D Raja in the Rajya Sabha earlier 
had said that the Supreme Court itself has "admitted to errors and miscarriage 
of justice due to arbitrary application of death penalty".

(source: Deccan Herald)






BANGLADESH:

Death upheld for lone convict in Shazneen murder


The Supreme Court has upheld death penalty for domestic help Shahidul Islam 
alias Shahid rejecting his review petition in a case filed over the rape and 
murder of Shazneen Tasnim Rahman.

A 3-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar 
Sinha passed the order Sunday morning, Shahid's lawyer Monoj Kumar Bhowmik 
confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

Shazneen, a 15-year-old Scholastica student and the youngest daughter of 
Transcom Limited Chairman Latifur Rahman, was raped and killed in her Gulshan 
house on April 23, 1998.

The Criminal Investigation Department of the police investigated the 
sensational murder and pressed charges against the 6 on December 12, 1998. The 
trial began on July 9, 2000.

On September 2, 2003, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal 
sentenced all the 6 accused including Shahid to death. The others are Syed 
Sajjad Mainuddin Hasan, a contractor who was appointed to repair the house; 
Sajjad's assistant Badal; carpenter Shaniram Mandal; and 2 maids - Estema 
Khatun Minu and Parvin.

After hearing their appeals, the High Court on July 10, 2006 acquitted Shaniram 
but upheld the death sentences for others.

On August 2, 2016, the Appellate Division and upheld the death sentence for 
Shahid, and acquitted the 4 others. Shahid then filed a petition seeking review 
of the judgement.

The lone convict may seek presidential clemency after the full verdict of 
Sunday's order is published. If Shahid does not seek clemency admitting the 
crimes or if the mercy petition is rejected, he will be executed as per the 
tribunal's order.

(source: Dhaka Tribune)






PHILIPPINES:

Makabayan condemns death penalty bill


The Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan or the Makabayan bloc in the House of 
Representatives condemned the course of the death penalty bill after this was 
approved on 2nd reading Wednesday evening.

Bayan Muna party-list representative lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate, in a 
statement, said the pro-death penalty majority did not only cut short the 
period of the interpellation but also the period to propose individual 
amendments.

"This effectively deprived House members, including those from the Makabayan, 
to exercise their rights and register their strong opposition, as well as those 
of their constituents," Zarate said.

Zarate said the Makabayan bloc is vehemently against the measure even with its 
supposedly watered down version, as the death penalty bill is deliberately 
anti-poor, as shown on the data of the human rights groups and the government 
during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.

He added that this will be no different from the current spate of 
extra-judicial killings (EJKs) wherein 99 % of the victims were poor.

"This patently anti-people bill opens the door for creeping death penalty 
legislation through subsequent amendments of existing penal laws that can lead 
to more crimes being added to those punishable by death," he said.

Zarate said it will just be the start of the installment imposition of the 
death penalty on other crimes, which people have to be cautious of and 
watchful.

The Makabayan bloc appealed that the House members have the right to 
interpellate and to propose amendments, whatever is the interpretation or the 
opinion of those in the majority.

"Whatever amendment will be proposed by any member will eventually be put to a 
vote," Zarate said.

(source: sunstar.com.ph)