[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 25




SUDAN:

Sudanese student sentenced to death for alleged murder of policeman



A Sudanese court sentenced a university student to death by hanging on Sunday 
for the alleged killing a policeman during protests last year, triggering 
protests after the verdict.

Last August, Khartoum North Criminal Court found Asim Omer, 21 years, guilty of 
premeditated murder, however, the judge delayed the sentencing until the 24th 
September to listen to the victim's family and make them decide on whether the 
convict should be punished or receive a pardon.

The Khartoum court, headed by Judge Abdeen Dahi, sentenced Omer to death by 
hanging, pointing that the family of the deceased's family refused blood money 
and demanded the death sentence.

Omer is a student at the University of Khartoum, he was arrested by the 
Sudanese security service and accused of killing a police officer who died 
after a hit by a Molotov cocktail during the student protests in April 2016.

The trial session which was held amid tight security measures was attended by 
representatives of the European Union, a number of Western embassies and 
international human rights organizations.

After the verdict, hundreds of students and representatives of the Sudanese 
opposition demonstrated outside the court, chanting anti-government slogans. 
But the Police responded to the protesters using tear gas to disperse them.

The demonstrations moved to the University of Khartoum, where police forces had 
to close the surrounding streets and disperse protesters with heavy tear gas. 
Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that the security forces arrested a number of 
protesters.

The Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) slammed rejected the "fabricated" sentence 
against Omer who is one of its members. It further stressed that verdict is 
"contrary to the law and to the evidence," pointing out that the prosecution 
did not offer evidence to justify the penalty.

The opposition party stressed that it would challenge the decision before the 
Supreme Court, adding "despite our knowledge of the nature of the critical 
stage reached by state institutions under the absolute control of the security 
apparatus."

The statement said all the options are open for dealing with this issue and to 
protect Omer's life.

SPLM-N Agar Secretary General Yasir Arman slammed the verdict and described it 
as "political by excellence".

He further voiced their solidarity with him and called on the SPLM-N 
membership, allies and supporters to continue to defend him adding that "such 
crimes would not stop until the removal of this criminal regime".

Sudanese Communist students office in Khartoum, for its part, condemned the 
death sentence saying it comes in line with the "political trials the regime 
has been conducting against the innocents and those who resist its policies".

"The prosecution did not provide any evidence condemning Asim," said the 
Communist students emphasizing that "The defence evidence confirmed that the 
day the crime was committed the student was at his home."

(source: Sudan Tribune)








ZIMBABWE:

Mawarire Faces Death Penalty After Renewed Treason Charge



Mawarire is being charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government 
or alternatively for inciting public violence. The charges are coming from the 
video he did yesterday before the FB live talking about the current cash 
crisis, they are treasonous and carry a death penalty.

Furthermore, the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights reports that authorities 
have lined up 8 witnesses to testify against His Generation Church leader 
Mawarire, whose trial on charges of subverting constitutional government 
commences at the High Court in Harare on Monday 25 September 2017.

The 40 year-old Mawarire, who is represented by Harrison Nkomo of Mhishi Nkomo 
Legal Practitioners, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights will appear 
before High Court Judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba, who will preside over his 
trial on Monday 25 September 2017.

The clergyman, who was arrested in July 2016 and in January 2017 will be on 
trial facing 2 counts of subverting constitutional government as defined in 
section 22 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 
9:23 or alternatively incitement to commit public violence as defined in 
section 187 (1) (a) as read with Section 36 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law 
(Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) claimed that Mawarire incited 
Zimbabweans from "all walks of life either locally or internationally" to 
revolt and overthrow a constitutionally elected government.

The NPA has lined up 8 witnesses who include Crispen Makedenge, Innocent 
Chipangura, Patrick Romeo Moyo, Lawrence Njodzi, Marshal Dube, Jeremiah 
Murenje, Edmore Runganga and Mavhira Richard Mhlanga to testify against 
Mawarire.

If convicted of subverting constitutional government, Mawarire is liable to 
imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years without the option of a fine, 
while if he gets convicted for public violence, the clergyman will be liable to 
a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or both.

(source: zimeye.net)








KENYA:

Man to hang for stealing Sh 16, tooth paste and toothbrush



A man who violently stole Sh16, a toothbrush and toothpaste faces the death 
penalty after his appeal was dismissed. James Muchangi was sentenced to death 
by a magistrate's court in 2010 and has since been fighting for his freedom.

His appeals at the High Court and the Court of Appeal have flopped and sealed 
his fate.

On March 20, 2008, at about 5am, John Kanyingi was walking to a bus stage in 
Kahawa Wendani when 2 men armed with a panga and a piece of metal confronted 
him. They frisked his pockets and stole a black bag that contained a 
toothbrush, toothpaste and Sh16.

The robbers cut Kanyingi on the left side of the face below the eye.

He later reported the incident at Kahawa Police Post and was issued with a P3 
form. On April 2, 2008, he was called by the police that 2 people had been 
arrested.

The following day, the officers proceeded to Muchangi's house and found 
Kanyingi's black bag hanging on the wall. Muchangi and his accomplice were then 
charged in court.

The co-accused died during trial. In his defence, the accused claimed he was 
arrested by police officers while on his way home after having drinks at a 
local club.

Muchangi maintained the charges were framed against him by the police as a way 
of keeping him behind bars.

But the lower court did not believe his testimony and sentenced him to death 
for robbery with violence.

He appealed before High Court judges Mbogholi Msagha and Lydiah Achode, arguing 
that the complainant did not positively identify him.

But the 2 judges threw out the case and Muchangi moved to the Court of Appeal.

In the Court of Appeal, he complained that he never led the police to the house 
where the items belonging to the complainant were recovered. He, however, could 
not explain how the items ended up in his house.

"The fact that the appellant was found with personal effects of the complainant 
only days after the robbery points to the irresistible conclusion that he was 
involved in the robbery," Justices Philip Waki, Asike Makhandia and William 
Ouko ruled.

(source: standardmedia.co.ke)