[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Nov. 20 INDONESIA: Record 11 Taiwanese sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug crimesThe 11 Taiwanese sentenced to death for drug crimes in Indonesia are a new record high As the Indonesian government intensifies its crackdown on illegal drugs, there are currently 11 Taiwanese that have been sentenced to death for drug offenses, a new record high, according to Indonesian official sources cited in a CNA report. In its effort to clamp down on the illegal drug trade, foreign nationals have also been targeted, with 11 Taiwanese sentenced to death for drug trafficking, 3 of whom are already on death row, including Chen Chia-wei, Wang An-kang, and Lo Chih-cheng, stated the report. The 8 other Taiwanese citizens who have been sentenced to death by Indonesian district and high courts are surnamed Lin, Chen, Chuang, Li, Shih, Wu, Hung, and Yeh. Although the 8 have not completed the judicial process, Indonesia's track record with death penalty case indicates that their chances of appealing their sentences are slim. Since last year, 4 Taiwanese drug suspects have been executed for their crimes in Indonesia. There are currently over 30 Taiwanese nationals imprisoned in Indonesia for drug trafficking. As part of the country's war on drugs, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is intensifying the severity of punishments, and has even told his police officers to "gun down" drug traffickers if necessary, especially foreigners, said John Chen, head of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia. Chen was quoted by CNA as warning Taiwanese citizens "not for one moment to consider smuggling drugs to Indonesia." (source: taiwannews.com.tw) MALAYSIA: Contractor escapes gallows thanks to trial judge's misstepThe Federal Court, in finding that a trial judge had acted as prosecutor and asked a prosecution witness incriminating questions, reduces murder charge and sentences contractor to 20 years' in jail. A contractor who stabbed to death his relative after a drinking session today escaped the death penalty due to a misstep by the trial judge. The Federal Court instead sentenced Paul Lagang anak Malip to 20 years' after finding him guilty of killing, without intention, Morris Asang Yahya. "We are substituting the charge from murder to culpable homicide due to the manner the trial was conducted," said Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum, who chaired the 5-man bench. He said the conviction for murder was "unsafe". Malanjum, in the course of the proceeding, said the trial judge had played the role of prosecutor. Another member of the bench, Jeffrey Tan Kok Hwa, remarked that the judge had crossed the line by asking incriminating questions to eye-witness, Robin Bapi. Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, appearing for Paul, told the bench the trial judge did not allow him to cross-examine Robin to determine his veracity and reliability as a prosecution witness. Gobind said the judge had also observed that Robin, being from the Kenyah community in Sarawak, needed an interpreter but this was not made available. "As a result, material part of his evidence, especially on the stabbing incident was incomprehensible," he said. The lawyer said the bench should either send the case back for retrial or reduce the charge. Paul, 30 committed the offence at No 24A-2, Jalan Utama 2/1, Taman Puchong Utama, in Bukit Puchong, between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Aug 13, 2013. Government lawyer K Mangai urged the court to impose a jail term ranging between 20 and 25 years. (source: freemalaysiatoday.com) NIGERIA: Fayose signs new law with death penalty as punishment for cultism Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has signed into law, the bill prohibiting secret cults and terrorism, with death penalty as punishment for anyone caught in the acts. While signing the bill at the government house in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, Fayose said the law was a confirmation of his government's commitment to fighting cultism and terrorism in the state. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the governor frowned at the resurgence of cultism especially among students in tertiary institutions. "From now, any person who is a member of a secret cult, whether or not the person is in possession or in control of any offensive weapon but commits the offence, is liable to conviction to death. "Any person who gives financial or material support or assistance to a secret cult or in any manner sponsor the activities of a secret cult, commits an offence under this law and is liable for conviction to imprisonment for life" he said. The governor also warned that anyone who intentionally encouraged the establishment of secret cult meetings or activities in places such as houses, nightclubs, and hotels, would be committed to life imprisonment. (source: ripplesnigeria.com) ___ A service
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----MD., VA., S.C., FLA., ALA., LA., TENN., S.D., COLO., USA
Nov. 20 MARYLAND: Shoemaker: Bring back the death penalty for cop killers My Dad used to tell me to say what you mean and mean what you say. It try to live by that. I don't waffle. I take positions on issues. People are free to agree or disagree, but at least folks know where I stand. And while my wife wishes that I would keep my trap shut more often, the overwhelming majority of Carroll County citizens that I encounter appreciate the fact that I take a stand. As a consequence of expressing myself, it causes liberals (including my opponent apparently), to lose their minds and write scathing responses to the Carroll County Times. And do you know what? I'm OK with that. If folks on the left are so agitated by my opinion that they want to call me names, I hope it makes them feel better. But, I really believe that if you don't stand up for something you will fall for anything. This leads me to my point. It is time to reinstate the death penalty in Maryland. On Nov. 16, Det. Sean Suiter, an 18-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, a former Navy officer, and the father of 5 children, succumbed to his injuries after having been shot in cold blood on Fremont Avenue in West Baltimore. Suiter, who worked in homicide, was there to investigate a previous murder. There is no question that the scumbag who killed him knew Suiter was a police officer. He killed the detective anyway. If there ever was a case that screams for reinstatement of the death penalty, it's this one. While sentencing is supposed to have 2 functions, to rehabilitate and to punish, it's readily apparent that the perpetrator in this case is so callous that he is irredeemable, and should be put to death. Liberal do-gooders will protest that the death penalty is not a deterrent. Well, after Ted Bundy was executed for raping and murdering numerous victims, he stopped raping and murdering. So the death penalty was definitely a deterrent for him. Until liberal do-gooder Martin O'Malley signed a death penalty repeal bill into law in 2013, Maryland had the death penalty in place. It has been used sparingly - in a total of 5 cases - during the modern era. Thankfully, one of the people who got the ultimate sanction was John Thanos, one of the coldest-hearted killers in Maryland's history. But, besides the fact the death penalty serves as a deterrent for the scumbag who is sentenced, it has other values that the bleeding hearts have deprived us of. Practically any prosecutor will tell you it's another tool in their tool box to use in the plea-bargain process. We also hear people cite the Kirk Bloodworth case and contend that it would be terrible to execute an innocent man. I agree, but DNA testing and other methods of modern crime scene science can now effectively eliminate almost all uncertainly as to a person's guilt or innocence. Furthermore, the death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous offenders: Those who kill law enforcement, those who kill correctional officers and those who engage in mass-killings and/or acts of terrorism. People like the scum that killed Det. Suiter deserve to be slipped the juice. I will support legislation to do just that during the 2018 session. (source: Op-Ed; Haven Shoemaker is a Republican representing District 5 in the Maryland House of Delegates and seeking re-election in 2018. He writes from HampsteadCarroll County Times) VIRGINIA: Joseph M. Giarratano, controversial former death row inmate, granted parole After 38 years behind bars and a close brush with execution for a rape and double murder that supporters have long claimed he did not commit, Joseph M. Giarratano has been granted parole. One of the best known and most controversial death row inmates in Virginia history, the former scallop boat crewman, jail house lawyer and well-traveled inmate was approved for release on Monday. Adrianne L. Bennett, chair of the Virginia State Parole Board, said it may take a month before Giarratano is actually freed. Giarratano was convicted of the Feb. 4, 1979, rape and capital murder of Michelle Kline, 15, and the murder of her mother, Toni Kline, 44, in Norfolk. After several confessions he later said he had no recollection of what happened in their apartment. He said he woke, discovered the bodies, assumed he was guilty and fled. In 1991, 2 days before his scheduled execution, Gov. L. Douglas Wilder commuted Giarratano's sentence to life after his case won national and international attention from celebrities, liberal and conservative commentators, religious and political figures and others who raised questions about his guilt. His was apparently the only death sentence commuted to life in Virginia in modern times allowing for the possibility of parole. Members of the victims' family could not be reached for comment Monday evening. His prosecutor and the judge who found him guilty are deceased.
