New from Michelle Pitcher: 41-year old Moises Mendoza has spent half his life on death row. Texas plans to execute him on Wednesday, April 23. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-death-row-moises-mendoza/
China has executed a man over the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen, southern China, in September last year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/22/japan/crime-legal/china-boy-stabbing-execution/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #china #stabbings #schools #children #deathpenalty #shenzhen
"We do not, and for the most part cannot, know precisely who is under the executioner’s hood. State secrecy statutes put the equivalent of a Harry Potter cloak of invisibility over these state-sanctioned killers. But litigation files and investigative journalism have revealed a number of executioners’ identities, allowing us to peek behind the veil of secrecy for a glimpse of who these people are."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/17/death-row-executioners
A government advisory panel will start discussions Monday to review the country's retrial system for criminal cases in which guilty verdicts have become final, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/18/japan/crime-legal/retrial-system-review-start/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #iwaohakamata #japanesecourts #deathpenalty #falseconvictions
Luigi Mangione was indicted on federal murder charges in the shooting of a UnitedHealth Group executive, paving the way for U.S. prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against him. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/18/world/crime-legal/luigi-mangione-federal-indictment/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #luigimangione #us #deathpenalty
Our northern neighbor was the first to adopt the plan to replace the spectacle of the electric chair with something more palatable for witnesses and the public. #Texas was just the first to test it out on a person.
https://www.texasobserver.org/sordid-story-behind-lethal-injection/
Capital punishment in Japan is under scrutiny again after the world's longest-serving death row prisoner was recently awarded $1.4 million in compensation following his acquittal last year in a retrial. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/13/japan/crime-legal/death-penalty-scrutiny/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #deathpenalty
"#LuigiMangione defense asks judge to block #deathPenalty in #CEO murder case"
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/luigi-mangione-death-penalty-brian-thompson-case.html
The defense's basis in the filing (pdf file):
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.633811/gov.uscourts.nysd.633811.16.0.pdf
"The #AttorneyGeneral stated during her television appearance that a reason she ordered the #deathSentence was because the alleged victim was a CEO"
I am not going to presuppose a ruling in today's political environment, but when the prosecution seeks the death penality *because the victim is a CEO*, that's fucked
Luigi Mangione's lawyers asked a judge to prevent the U.S. government from seeking the death penalty. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/12/world/crime-legal/mangione-death-penalty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #luigimangione #courts #deathpenalty
#LuigiMangione may receive #deathpenalty, while #whitesupremacist who killed 23 at #TexasWalmart won't
Prosecutors' decision to forego seeking the death penalty in the #Texas case reportedly had to do with the #victims' families' wishes.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mangione-death-penalty-white-supremacist/
The three-drug protocol first used by states was intended to make sure the person on the gurney died. Extremely high doses of three drugs—each lethal in its own right—would ensure that if one drug failed, one of the other two would surely work. But this three-drug plan wasn’t reviewed by anyone before #Oklahoma adopted it, followed the next day by #Texas. https://www.texasobserver.org/sordid-story-behind-lethal-injection/
#DeathPenalty #politics #history #books #prison #CriminalJustice #law #medicine #USpol #bookstodon
Group’s reports
Monthly report on this politically toxic topic April 2025 The Government’s Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill has now completed its report stage and will next go to the Lords. While this is going on, an update on the numbers shows that the number of small boat arrivals this year so far has exceeded 6000,…
by welland2April 10, 2025Death penalty report for mid March – April April 2025 We are pleased to attach the group’s death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. In a previous post (see below) we refer to the Amnesty annual report for 2024 which shows that while the number of countries using…
by welland2April 10, 2025April 10, 2025New report the group is launching April 2025 Amnesty began by focusing on human rights in other countries. This was probably based on the belief that rights in the UK were secure, we had after all, the Magna Carta, a justice system and things like torture ended several centuries ago. The UK was a key…
by welland2April 10, 2025April 10, 2025Death Penalty report
Death penalty report for mid March – April
April 2025
We are pleased to attach the group’s death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. In a previous post (see below) we refer to the Amnesty annual report for 2024 which shows that while the number of countries using the report has held steady, the number of executions has risen markedly. We do not know of the huge number executed in China since the statistics are a state secret.
Report: Mar – April (Word)DownloadIn explaining the legal and clinical aspects of lethal injections, “Secrets of the Killing State” is far from sterile. Corinna Barrett Lain lays out her fact-based narratives in stomach-churning detail, while also plainly sharing her analysis of the facts with readers, often bordering on righteous indignation. https://www.texasobserver.org/sordid-story-behind-lethal-injection/
DR Congo repatriates three US citizens convicted over failed coup | Politics News https://www.byteseu.com/904946/ #africa #Conflict #DeathPenalty #DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo #News #Politics #UnitedStates #US&Canada
Jon Henley notes that an Amnesty International report documented at least 1,518 executions globally in 2024, the highest since 2015. Iraq executed 63 people, Saudi Arabia 345, Iran, 972, and the US 25. The real figure is likely much higher, with housands of suspected cases in countries including China, North Korea and Vietnam.
#CapitalPunishment #DeathPenalty #execution #AmnestyInternational
Amnesty publishes Death Penalty report
Report for 2024 published
April 2025
The report highlights a sharp increase in numbers executed – the highest level since 2015 – but the number of countries holds steady. Amnesty has recorded 1,518 executions in 2024 a 32% increase over the previous year. A problem with producing statistics of this nature is that countries who are major users of the penalty, keep their figures a secret. China for example, believed to be the world’s largest executioner with thousands of its citizens executed each year – does not publish figures regarding them as a state secret. Another secretive nation is Vietnam where, similarly, the numbers are a state secret, and Belarus and Laos who release limited information. The figures are accordingly a minimum estimate of the actual numbers executed. The full report can be accessed here (pdf).
The penalty is not solely used to put to death people who have committed serious crime, but is used as a repressive tool. Saudi Arabia (image), and Iran, for example use the penalty to stifle dissent, targeting human rights defenders, protestors, dissidents and political opponents. There is also a disproportionate use of the penalty against minorities particularly religious minorities. Iran, which executed no less than 972 individuals last year, uses the penalty to execute those who challenge, or who are perceived to challenge, the Islamic Republic. It is also noted that these regimes have poor levels of justice. Defendants are often tortured to secure confessions and are denied access to lawyers. It is highly likely, not to say probable, that many wholly innocent people lose their lives.
Another trend is the use of the penalty as part of drugs programmes against dealers and users.
There is little sign, and very little evidence, that the penalty is some kind of deterrent, an argument frequently put forward for its retention or return. The leader of UK’s Reform party for example recently called for its reintroduction following the dreadful murder of three little girls which took place in Southport*. YouGov surveys show mixed views among Britons about the penalty. Generally, people are opposed but there is more support for its use among Conservative voters. The strongest support comes from the 65+ age group. Attitudes do change however, following a particularly unpleasant murder of a child, a policeman or as a result of terrorist activity. It was last used in 1964, suspended in 1965, abolished in 1969 and completely abolished in 1998 when treason was removed (different dates in Northern Ireland).
The group publishes a report on its use each month and last month’s report is available here.
*Town in northern England
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In #books, from Michelle Pitcher: Law professor, former prosecutor, and death penalty expert Corinna Barrett Lain brings readers into the death chamber to bear disturbing witness to the reality of lethal injection. A look behind the curtain at our state's grim legacy in criminal justice ...
https://www.texasobserver.org/sordid-story-behind-lethal-injection/
