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12 Nov 2010 15:45

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U.S.: Did George W. Bush allow the execution of an innocent man?

  • I have no doubt that if President Bush had known about the request to do a DNA test of the hair he would have issued a 30-day stay in this case and Jones would not have been executed.
  • Innocence Project founder Barry Scheck • Arguing that George W. Bush, while still governor of Texas, let death row inmate Claude Jones face execution in 2000, despite the existence of DNA evidence which proved he was innocent. The Innocence Project revealed today that Jones’ DNA was not found at the crime scene of the liquor store where the 1989 murder of Allen Hilzendager. While hair at the crime scene was initially linked to Jones after the crime took place, it wasn’t actually his, and even though Jones asked for DNA testing on the strand of hair, it wasn’t enough to force a stay of execution. No other physical evidence linked Jones to the scene.  source
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17 Jan 2010 10:15

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U.S.: Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case hits the Supreme Court again

  • SCOTUS will tackle the heavily-debated cop killer case on Tuesday. On December 9, 1981, police officer Daniel Faulkner was murdered. And for nearly 30 years since, Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on death row fighting the conviction. The Supreme Court will release a sentencing-related decision on Abu-Jamal, who was well-known as a radio journalist before the 1982 conviction. The decision will not have any effect on Abu-Jamal’s conviction – but it could lead to a new jury trial on his death sentence. source
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23 Nov 2009 10:40

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World: Is Iran using the death penalty to silence political opposition?

Ehsan Fattahian was hanged on Nov. 11th for belonging to an armed Kurdish group. Sentenced 10 years initially, they then added the charge of being an “enemy of God.” source
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13 Oct 2009 11:28

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U.S.: What’s it like to be married to the D.C. sniper? It’s pretty scary.

  • When I met John, he was very charming and thoughtful. He would give you the shirt off your back. He was that kind of person, before he went to the Gulf War. When he returned in 1991 he was a different man.
  • Mildred Muhammad • Wife of D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad, describing his personality changes which led to the 2002 shootings. John, who kept the District gripped in fear for weeks due to the random nature of the shootings, will be executed next month for the crime. Mildred has a new memoir on the experience, “Scared Silent,” out this week. • source
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11 Oct 2009 11:19

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World: Dear Iran, this is what you call justice? Really? Justice?

  • 3 Iran election protesters were sentenced to death; this is justice? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

05 Sep 2009 10:44

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U.S.: The Station Fire suspect could face the death penalty

  • It’s all based on the intent. Investigators in the Station Fire, currently the largest fire in Los Angeles County history, say that there’s a good chance the fire was started intentionally. As two firefighters died in the blaze, that could lead to death penalty charges for the suspect. It’s not without precedent – Raymond Lee Oyler was given that sentence in June for starting the Esperanza fire in 2006. source
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19 Aug 2009 21:49

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U.S.: A judge who blocked a death-row appeal shows no remorse

  • Sharon Keller closed her office early, stood by her decision. The Texas judge, currently on trial for misconduct, prevented lawyers from appealing the execution of Michael Richard. She closed her office at 5 p.m., refusing to let the lawyers, fighting against a 6 p.m. execution deadline (and computer problems), have more time. Richard died as a result. Her argument: Another judge was on duty that night and they could have handed the appeal to them. Keller could be removed from the bench for the five counts of judicial misconduct. source
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08 Jul 2009 10:49

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World: China’s way of dealing with ethnic violence? Death penalty threats.

  • When it comes to the death penalty, BTW, China doesn’t mess around. In looking for the best way to deal with the ethnic violence that’s broken out this week between the lower-class Uighur people and higher-class Han people, Urumqi’s Communist Party boss, Li Zhi, has threatened the death penalty for those responsible for the riots in the Xinjiang capital. If you give even a minor to-do about human rights, this should anger you greatly, because of China’s history in this regard. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

11 May 2009 03:11

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U.S., World: A former U.S. soldier pays for his crimes in Iraq in civilian court

  • The crime In 2006, U.S. soldier Steven Green and two fellow soldiers allegedly went into an Iraqi family’s home. Prosecutors say two soldiers raped a 14-year-old girl, while Green herded other family members into another room and killed them, then later joined his fellow soldiers. The girl was also killed.
  • The controversy After the crimes became public, the Iraqi public became enraged at the brutality of the crimes. The U.S. promised that they would find those soldiers responsible and bring them to justice. Green, who was discharged by then, was arrested after visiting his grandmother in North Carolina. He expected it.
  • The convictionSteven Green was found guilty on all charges on Thursday. He could face the death penalty. Green’s case is different from many in that he was arrested as a civilian, meaning he could be the first ex-U.S. soldier to face the death penalty in a civilian court for war crimes committed during combat. source
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18 Mar 2009 22:35

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U.S.: Who has no death penalty? A small (but growing) number of states

  • 15 states have no death penalty; more are considering ending it source
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