[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 27



INDIA:

SC stays death for child rapist----Bhagwani says he was rendered ineffective 
legal assistance in lower courts



The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of the death sentence of a child 
rapist and murderer after he pleaded in appeal that he was rendered ineffective 
legal assistance in the lower courts.

A vacation Bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra called for the 
records of the case and froze the execution of Bhagwani, who came in appeal 
against the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court confirming his death 
sentence for the rape and murder of a 11-year-old girl.

In its judgment, the High Court found that the brutal crime against an innocent 
child was committed for the sheer satisfaction of crime and there was a 
complete lack of mitigating factors to help the accused escape the gallows.

The High Court highlighted the case as an example of the rising brutality and 
crimes committed against children.

It said the circumstances required the death penalty to be treated as a measure 
of social necessity and a deterrent against child sex offenders and murderers.

The prosecution records showed that the victim was kidnapped and raped, after 
which she was strangled to death and her body left by the road.

(source: The Hindu)








BAHAMAS:

Bahamas man found guilty of murdering Guyanese teacher



A Supreme Court jury in The Bahamas yesterday found Allister Williams 
unanimously guilty for the September 2016 murder of pregnant Charles W Saunders 
Baptist school teacher Marisha Bowen, a Guyanese.

Allister Williams, the man charged with the murder of Guyanese teacher Marisha 
Bowen.

According to the Bahamas Tribune newspaper, the 12-member jury, 11 women and 1 
man convicted Williams after just under 2 hours of deliberation.

According to the report, the Crown is seeking the death penalty for Williams, 
of Garden Hills, pursuant to section 291 (1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code 
(CPC).

The jury also found him guilty of robbing Bowen of 2 cellphones and an iPod.

Justice Carolina Bethel said Williams will receive his sentence on July 24. A 
probation as well as a psychiatric report was consequently ordered to be 
prepared.

According to the Tribune, Forensic Pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, in her autopsy 
report, said the 35-year-old died as a result of 6 stab wounds to the neck and 
oxygen deprivation.

The pathologist's report also said the half-dozen stab wounds caused injury and 
bleeding to the soft tissue and blood vessels in Bowen's neck leading to blood 
loss.

Dr Sands' report also noted Bowen was approximately 3 months pregnant at the 
time of her death. The autopsy revealed a "normally formed" foetus whose 
measurements were "consistent with a gestation of 12-13 weeks".

Further, the report said the 35-year-old had a belt around her neck with an 
underlying "furrow" consistent with pressure applied to her neck by the belt, 
which were associated with ruptured blood vessels in her eyes, mouth and 
larynx.

That would have caused lack of blood flow to her brain and contributed to her 
death, Dr Sands' report noted, according to the Tribune.

Dr Sands' report further stated that Bowen suffered numerous other injuries, 
such as upper lip lacerations and both lower and upper lip contusions, a 
contusion on the right side of the chest, intramuscular haemorrhage of the 
tongue and laceration to the mouth.

(source: stabroeknews.com)