[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Nov. 5 IRAQ: Iraqi general responsible for losing Mosul has been sentenced to death The Iraqi commander responsible for conceding the historical city of Mosul to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in the Summer of 2014 has been sentenced to death by a military tribunal, Al-Sura News reported. General Mahdi Al-Gharawi was issued a death sentence by a military tribunal this week, marking the 1st time an army commander has been given the death penalty under Iraqi Prime Minister, Haidar Al-'Abadi. ISIS took control of Mosul in 2014, following the abrupt withdrawal of some 10,000 Iraqi Army soldiers under the command of General Gharawi. (source: almardasnews.,com) ISRAEL: Report: Netanyahu prevented advance of terrorist death penaltyPM publicly supported death penalty for terrorists at condolence visit, 2 days after reportedly thwarting a proposal to advance the issue. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu thwarted several months ago during a cabinet meeting a proposal that sought to impose a death penalty on terrorists who had committed particularly brutal acts, according to a report this morning in Haaretz. At a July 25 cabinet meeting following the murder of 3 members of the Salomon family in the community of Neve Tzuf, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman reportedly requested that the military prosecutor seek a death penalty for the terrorist murderer, who was caught alive after the attack. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz also supported Liberman's position. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit responded that the prosecution's policy has long been not to seek the death penalty. He added that the issue was complex and had broad political implications, and he therefore did not want to make such a decision alone. He suggested that cabinet ministers authorize him to seek the death penalty for particularly cruel murders. According to the report in Haaretz, Netanyahu heard the remarks and said that they had not convened to talk about this issue, thus ending deliberations on the matter. 2 days later, the Prime Minister arrived for a condolence visit at the Salomon family home, where he specifically expressed support for the progression he had thwarted 2 days before. Netanyahu told the family members, "The time had come to impose the death penalty for terrorists." "This is permitted by the law; it needs a unanimous decision by the judges, but they'll want to know the position of the government as well. And my position is, as Prime Minister, that in this case, of this lowly terrorist, that he should be executed. He simply cannot be allowed to smile again," Netanyahu said, referencing pictures taken of the terrorist smiling shortly after the attack. Several cabinet ministers present were amazed by Netanyahu's words, in light of the gap between his rhetoric and lack of readiness to advance such a proposal when the opportunity had presented itself. (source: israelnationalnews.com) LEBABON: Manal Assi's killer sentenced to death Mohammad al-Nhaily was given the death penalty at the Court of Cassation earlier this week for the 2014 murder of his wife, Manal Assi, according to local paper An-Nahar. (source: The Daily Star) SAUDI ARABIA: New anti-terror laws include death penalty The newly announced laws against terrorism and its funding include the death penalty. The new laws state that individuals defaming and publicly insulting the King and the Crown Prince will be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of imprisonment. Terrorists conducting terror attacks while carrying arms and explosives will face 10 to 30 years in prison. Terrorists establishing a terrorist cell or leading one will face 10 to 25 years in prison. Individuals receiving training from terrorist organizations on using arms, explosives, chemical substances, wired and wireless telecommunication devices and ways to smuggle them into the Kingdom will face 20 to 30 years in prison. Individuals who entice and coax another person to join a terrorist organization will face 8 to 25 years in prison. Individuals who set up a training camp or manage one or get training in such a camp will face 10 to 20 years in prison. The punishment will be harsher for individuals with a military background. They may face 20 to 30 years of imprisonment. Individuals who help terrorists with weapons in any way will face 10 to 30 years in prison. Individuals who misuse their status in any way either academic or social status or media influence to promote terrorism will face a maximum of 15 years in prison. Individuals who forge documents for terrorist operations and get training on martial arts for terrorist operations will face 10 to 30 years in prison. Individuals who smuggle explosives, atomic substances or wired or wireless communication devices will face 15 to 20 years in prison. Individuals conducting a terror attack that results in the death of 1 or
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ALA., OHIO, ARK., MO., IDAHO, ARIZ.
Nov. 5 ALABAMA: Appeals court affirms death row inmate's conviction, but 'disturbed' by former Alabama DA's conduct A federal appeals court has called a former Alabama prosecutor's behavior "unconstitutional and unethical" in a 1997 death penalty case. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals describes former Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska's misconduct in an opinion issued in October. The court also said it planned to forward its opinion on his conduct to the Alabama State Bar. The appeal was filed by death row inmate Artez Hammonds, who was convicted by Valeska in 1997. Hammond was asking the higher court overturn a Alabama Supreme Court ruling, which decided inappropriate comments by Valeska at the trial did not sway the jury. The opinion states, "Although Valeska's improper remarks 'almost persuaded' the Alabama Supreme Court to reverse Hammonds's conviction, it nonetheless held that 'the trial judge corrected any harm by giving appropriate corrective instructions.'" It continues, "Because Hammonds cannot show that he was actually prejudiced by any constitutional trial error, we affirm." Valeska was first elected Houston County District Attorney in 1986 and served until 2016, when he decided not to seek a 6th 6-year term. He has been a controversial figure in the past, and was even the focus of a New York Times article last year. Hammonds was convicted of killing of Marilyn Mitchell, who was was found raped and murdered in her townhouse in May 1990. At trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing Hammonds DNA and fingerprint at the scene, and showed that Hammonds pawned a ring similar to Mitchell's engagement ring after she was killed. Hammonds did not testify at trial. While a constitutional amendment allows a defendant the right to not testify-- and prosecutors cannot their silence against the defendant-- Hammonds' attorneys asked the court in a pre-trial motion to preclude Valeska from making any negative remarks about Hammonds' decision "given Valeska's track record." The motion was granted. Cobb in early January filed a complaint with the Alabama State Bar's disciplinary committee stating that Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska had given false statements, or was not properly prepared and relied on a faulty memory, to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. "But neither the Constitution nor a direct order from the court inhibited Valeska from improperly referring to Hammonds's decision not to testify," the Eleventh Circuit opinion states. The appeal and the ruling focuses on two comments made by Valeska during the 1997 trial: One where Valeska said during an objection, "Let him testify," and another during closing arguments when Valeska referred to Hammonds' previous imprisonment, before his arrest in Mitchell's slaying. The court states their job is to decide whether the remarks swayed the jury's decision. "Hammonds argues that the prosecutor's first statement, which referred to his decision not to testify, violated his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. He's right," the opinion states. It states, "We are very disturbed by Valeska's behavior. Not only did Valeska intentionally refer to Hammonds's decision not to testify, but he did so in flagrant violation of the court's pre-trial order... Valeska had been reprimanded in prior cases for engaging in precisely the same unconstitutional and unethical behavior." The order continues with its review of Valeska, claiming the state "white-washed" his actions. "For this reason alone, we, like the Alabama Supreme Court... are tempted to grant Hammonds's petition. But as we have explained, we cannot do so unless Valeska's conduct actually prejudiced Hammonds." "We can, however, provide the Alabama State Bar with a copy of our opinion for consideration of Valeska's conduct, and we will do so," the ruling states. Valeska has faced at least one bar complaint before, filed by former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb in 2016. The court says in the order that while Valeska's conduct was inappropriate, the trial judge immediately gave jury instructions to disregard the remarks and that prosecutors presented "overwhelming evidence" incriminating Hammonds. For those reasons, the court ruled, the errors didn't prejudice Hammonds. Houston County has 18 inmates on Alabama's death row-- the 2nd most behind Jefferson County, which has 25. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2016 Houston County had a population of 104,056-- Jefferson County had a population of 659,521. (source: al.com) OHIO: Trial date set for quadruple-murder suspect A trial date has been set for the man accused of killing 4 people and severely injuring a fifth person Oct. 11 in Pedro, Ohio. Having pleaded not guilty Oct. 20 to a 13-count capital murder indictment, Arron Lee Lawson, 23, will go to trial Aug. 6, 2018. A capital indic
