[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

August 18



INDIA:

Man out on bail for murder gets death sentence for raping woman in Madhya 
Pradesh----At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various 
courts in the state since February this year so far.


A local court has sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a woman while 
he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder.

While awarding the death penalty to Prakash Lahase (34) yesterday, Sessions 
Judge of Special Court Rajesh Nandeshwar observed, "The case falls in the 
category of the rarest of rare cases. Such persons are like gangrene in society 
which has to be removed from the body to save it."

Quoting the judge, public prosecutor Shantaram Wankhede said, "The judiciary 
has a duty to remove the accused from the society. Criminals will have a free 
run if they are not punished properly, and the fear in them of deterrent will 
end."

The public prosecutor said that judge Nandeshwar sentenced Lahase to death 
under Section 302 (murder) and awarded him life imprisonment on 2 different 
counts -- Section 376 (2) (sexual assault) and 364 (kidnapping to kill) of the 
Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In 38 days, the court examined 38 witnesses before pronouncing the verdict, he 
said.

Prosecutor Wankhede said that Lahase had kidnapped the 30-year-old victim on 
May 17 this year from Khadkod village, some 8 kilometres from the district 
headquarters.

"He raped the woman at a deserted place and killed her by crushing her head 
with a stone. He then disposed of the body in a well," Wankhede said.

Judge Nandeshwar, while delivering his verdict, also said that women were 
feeling "extremely helpless and insecure" following a spurt in rape cases, 
Wankhede said.

At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in 
the state since February this year.

Under fire for growing number of rape cases, the MP government had brought a 
Bill in December last year, a first for the country, prescribing the death 
penalty for those convicted of raping minors below the age of 12.

It also set up 50 fast track courts to speed up the trial of those accused of 
rape.

According to statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau released in 
November last year, MP accounted for the the highest number of rape cases at 
4,882 out of a total of 38,947 recorded nationwide in 2016.

The figure of 4,882 included 2,479 cases involving minor victims.

Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of rape cases (4,391) in 2015 too, 
according to the NCRB report.

(source: newindianexpress.com)






TANZANIA:

Msuya killers file appeal against death sentence


The death sentence against the quintet was passed on July 23, this year, by 
Judge Salma Maghimbi of the High Court, whereby she acquitted the 2nd accused 
Shwaibu Jumanne alias Mredii. The convicts are the 1st accused Sharifu Mohamed, 
Mussa Mangu (3rd accused), Karim Kihundwa (5th accused), Sadik Jabir (6th 
accused) and the 7th accused Ally Majeshi.

(source: thecitizen.co.tz)






MALAYSIA:

Malaysia frees Metuh of drug charge, death sentence


A Nigerian student, Joseph Metuh Onyinye has been freed of a drug charge in 
Malaysia after the prosecution failed to prove that he knew that an unopened 
parcel contained methamphetamine, known locally as syabu.

Justice Datuk Lim Chong Fong of the High Court in George Town acquitted Joseph 
Metuh Onyinye, 35, without calling for his defence.

He ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case 
against Onyinye, who was charged with trafficking 1.8kg of syabu.

The Nigerian was charged with committing the offence on Oct 31, 2014, at about 
3.10pm at Miami Green Resort Condominium in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.

In his decision, Lim said the prosecution had not proven possession as the 
parcel was still unopened and was intact at the point of arrest.

Moreover, it was not addressed to Onyinye.

"In this case, the prosecution has not proven possession because there was no 
evidence that he (Onyinye) had knowledge of the existence of the drugs inside 
the parcel that was delivered," he said.

The Nigerian was charged with committing an offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of 
the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the 
same Act.

It carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

(source: nan.ng)






IRAN----executions

Iran executes 6 for theft, looting


Iranian authorities on Saturday executed 6 people on charges of looting and 
theft in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the state television.

State prosecutor Hassan Haidari said the executions were carried out upon the 
approval of the High Court of Justice.

According to Haidari, the 6 people "were not poor" and were in no need to 
steal.

"The death penalty should be a lesson for everyone who harms the safety and 
integrity of society," he said.

Iran has been facing economic difficulties as the U.S. re-imposed the 1st round 
of economic sanctions on the country, which mainly target the Tehran's banking 
sector.

The sanctions are intended to hinder the country's acquisition of U.S. 
currency; its precious metals trade; bank transactions denominated in the 
Iranian rial; activities related to Iran's sovereign debt; and the country's 
automotive sector.

(source: aa.com.tr)

*******************

Executions: Prisoner Hanged in Tabriz


A prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on murder charges.

According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, August 15, a prisoner 
was hanged at Tabriz Central Prison. The prisoner, identified as Milad Zia, was 
sentenced to death on murder charges.

According to Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Milad Zia was arrested and 
sentenced to death on the charge of murdering 4 people including a government 
official.

IHR sources said that another prisoner, named Ali Narimani, was transferred to 
the solitary confinement along with Milad but he returned to his cell by 
winning the consent of the plaintiffs.

The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so 
far.

According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 
517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges.

(source: Iran Human Rights)






LIBYA:

Canada opposes Libyan court's sentence of 45 former regime supporters to death


Canadian Embassy to Libya on Friday announced Canada's opposition to a Libyan 
court's sentence of 45 supporters of former regime to death over killing 
demonstrators in 2011.

"Canada supports justice for crimes committed, opposes the death penalty, and 
calls on Libyan authorities and leaders to redouble their efforts to achieve 
reconciliation, stability and decent living conditions for all Libyans," the 
embassy said.

UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday expressed concern over the 
court's death sentence, opposing "the imposition of the death penalty as a 
matter of principle."

Libya's Court of Appeal on Wednesday sentenced 45 supporters of former leader 
Muammar Gaddafi's regime to death over the killing of demonstrators in the 
capital Tripoli during the 2011 uprising, the Ministry of Justice said.

Video footages circulated showed Gaddafi supporters forcing some demonstrators 
to kneel down before killing them on the spot.

(source: xinhuanet.com)

*********************

UN "concerned" by death sentences passed on 45 pro Qaddafi killers of 2011 
revolution supporting protestors


UNSMIL has today expressed its concern on the 45 death sentence by firing squad 
passed by a Tripoli Court of Appeal yesterday on 45 people aligned to the 
Qaddafi regime who had opened fire on pro 2011 revolution supporting protestors 
on the main Tripoli motorway back in 2011.

In its statement today, UNSMIL said that "the verdict announced on 15 August 
2018 by the Criminal Circuit of the Court of Appeal of Tripoli is a cause of 
concern, given the 45 death sentences pronounced.

UNSMIL recognizes efforts by the Libyan judiciary to hold people to account for 
crimes committed during the 2011 Revolution, especially amid armed conflict and 
political polarization. However, the United Nations opposes the imposition of 
the death penalty as a matter of principle", the short statement concluded.

It will be recalled that despite other death sentences being issued by Libyan 
courts against former Qaddafi supporters since the 2011 revolution, none of 
these sentences have been carried out.

(source: libyaherald.com)