[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide----UNITED KINGDOM
Friends- here is an attached flyer from Peter Hodgkinson, who address is below: Peter Hodgkinson OBE Senior Research Fellow Director Centre for Capital Punishment Studies Westminster Law School 4 Little Titchfield Street London, W1W 7UW http://www.justgiving.com/centreforcapitalpunishmentstudies Law School Phone:+44.207.911.5000 [Ext.2501] Facsimile: +44.[0]207.911.5821 ___ DeathPenalty mailing list DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty Search the Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/deathpenalty@lists.washlaw.edu/ ~~~ A free service of WashLaw http://washlaw.edu (785)670.1088 ~~~
[Deathpenalty] [POSSIBLE SPAM] death penalty news----TEXAS, IND., OHIO, N.C., TENN., USA
Oct. 7 TEXASfilm review ‘Incendiary: The Willingham Case’: Justice gets burned Given the zeitgeist about the death penalty and the execution of innocent people from the Troy Davis Case – and the presidential campaign of Texas Gov. Rick Perry – the timing couldn’t be better for the release of the documentary, “Incendiary: The Willingham Case.” This film, by Steve Mims and Joe Bailey Jr., is just what its title implies: a match being lit to a tinderpile of flimsy evidence that led to the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in Texas in 2004 after his 1992 conviction for setting the fire that killed his 3 babies. Yet this isn’t a high-minded discourse on the morality of execution in general. Nor is it about the notion of reasonable doubt. Rather, it is about the science of fire investigation, the ignorance of fire investigators whose “expert” testimony sent Willingham to the death chamber, and the concerted CYA efforts by Perry and his minions when questions about that same fire science were raised. In each instance, Texas gets a failing grade: for its lack of willingness to address its own ignorance, for its insistence on supporting outdated methods that were since debunked by science, and for its bull-headed refusal to consider the possibility that a mistake was being made in Willingham’s case. But then, this is a state which, 3 times, has elected a governor who calls evolution “a theory that’s out there” and regularly refers to climate change as a hoax. He’s a Christian who has not a single doubt about the record number of people his state has executed. And now he’s a serious contender for president. Mims and Bailey start with the science: how, for years, fire investigators were taught the lore that was passed down from one fireman to another – and how much of this supposed “technique” for fire investigation was later debunked by chemists and physicists, studying the properties of fire. The film then turns its attention to the Willingham case: of a perpetual ne’er-do-well, the father of a 3-year-old daughter and infant twins who was known as a short-tempered troublemaker. He had been in trouble for spouse abuse in the past but was still trying to make a go of it with his long-suffering wife in the small town of Corsicana, Texas. Willingham awoke from a nap one morning shortly before Christmas, 1991, to find his clapboard house engulfed in flames. He ran out of the house and, according to neighbors, then tried to get back in to save his children. But the flames and heat were too intense and all 3 children died. In short order, the local fire investigators decided the evidence pointed to arson and tagged Willingham as the culprit. He was poorly represented at trial (by a court-appointed attorney, who is interviewed in the film about his own belief that Willingham was a monster who killed his own children) – and sentenced to death. As his appeals worked their way through the courts, death-penalty opponents took up his case and brought in fire scientists, including Gerald Hurst and John Lentini, both of whom appear in the film. They assembled a lengthy report explaining why the fire investigation evidence that convicted Willingham was badly flawed and why the fire was not, in fact, arson. Their report, however, was ignored by the courts and dismissed by both Gov. George W. Bush, and by Perry, who replaced Bush as Texas governor. Willingham, protesting his innocence to the last moment, was executed in 2004. The last half of the film is about the subsequent attempts to get the report before the state fire investigation board and to change the state’s standards for fire investigation. Again, Perry does his best to be an obstruction – going so far as to replace the head of the board the day before the board is supposed to meet to consider the report. As a documentary, “Incendiary” is decidedly even-handed, even as it raises the temperature of those watching. It presents a press conference by Willingham’s widow, who claims that, in his final hours, Willingham admitted that he had killed the children, without commenting on her motives for suddenly coming forth with a statement that refuted everything she had previously said – on the day of an exoneration hearing for the late Willingham, accompanied by a lawyer from the law firm of former Bush attorney general John Ashcroft. Yet the dispassionate explanations of fire science by Hurst and Lentini seem so clear, so unbiased, that the legal travesty becomes clear. So does Perry’s stubborn insistence on his own rightness. This isn’t a film about the rightness and wrongness of the death penalty. It is about human unwillingness to admit a mistake, even at the cost of an innocent human life. Tragedy compounds tragedy in “Incendiary: The Willingham Case,” showing that, in Texas, the main interest of those who govern is self-interest. (source: Marshall Fine.Author and film
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Oct. 7 GLOBAL: MIDDLE EAST: FAREWELL TO DICTATORSHIPS AND THE DEATH PENALTY There are clear indications that the world is moving away from capital punshment: the legal abolition of the sanction in recent years in many states of the US -which saw a drop in executions from 52 in 2009 to 46 in 2010-, the drop that is apparently occurring in China, the reduction in the number of capital offenses in China and Vietnam, and the thousands of death sentences commuted in Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Burma, writes Emma Bonino, Vice president of the Italian Senate and a leader of the Radical Party. There are clear indications that the world is moving away from capital punshment: the legal abolition of the sanction in recent years in many states of the US -which saw a drop in executions from 52 in 2009 to 46 in 2010-, the drop that is apparently occurring in China, the reduction in the number of capital offenses in China and Vietnam, and the thousands of death sentences commuted in Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Burma, writes Emma Bonino, Vice president of the Italian Senate and a leader of the Radical Party. In this analysis, Bonino also cites the abolition of the sanction in recent years in Africa and particularly countries like Rwanda and Burundi, symbols of a continent that has been battred more than any other in recent history by human tragedy. The arrest warrant issued in 2009 by the International Criminal Court for Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir for the massacres in Darfur was a judiciary prelude to the political development that would soon occur in many Arab countries and others: the end of the myth of the invincibility of dictators who had ruled for decades. But it isn't all good news: Iran, which has consistently finished among the world's top executioners, kicked off the new year with an orgy of executions. In North Korea public executions tripled in recent years. In Iraq there has never been a pause in executions, even under the democratic government of Nouri al-Maliki. In China as in Iran, and North Korea as Iraq, it will be the parallel democracy by the Radical Party that will have to compensate for the lack of official presence on the part of the so- called liberal, civil, abolitionist world. Mumia still on death row, but executions of journalists on the wane On the eve of the 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty, Reporters Without Borders and the Paris-based NGO Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) would like to point out that being a journalist, editing a website or keeping a blog can still expose a person to the possibility of the death penalty in some countries. The charges of “subversion,” “endangering state security” and even “apostasy” can be used in some countries to convict and execute someone who has criticized the government, made fun of a leader in a cartoon or just covered a highly sensitive subject. Around 10 people, mostly bloggers and netizens, are awaiting execution or are facing the possibility of a death sentence in Iran and Vietnam. What will become of Vahid Asghari, 25, who has been jailed since 2008 in Tehran and who was sentenced to death on a date that was never made public? As well as a negation of justice, capital punishment is also a deadly threat that encourages self-censorship. China, which leads the world in executions, has no fewer than 55 capital offences of which three are direct threats to freedom of expression: “endangering public security,” “instigating the country’s division” and “divulging state secrets.” In Uganda, the imprisoned journalists Augustine Okello and Patrick Otim are still waiting to know whether the charges of subversion and treason that have been brought against them will cost them their lives. Abdelrahman Adam, a Sudanese radio journalist who has been held since October 2010 on a charge of violating state secrets, is in the same situation. Nonetheless, the number of journalists being sentenced to death is declining. Even in Iran, which ranks second in the world in the number of executions, death sentences are being commuted or quashed. Capital punishment neither deters crimes nor compensates for the damage caused. Still less can it destroy the inalienable right to inform, question and speak out. Of the few journalists actually under sentence of death, the one who has been in the situation longest has become a symbol of the campaign for abolition. He is not an Iranian, Vietnamese or Sudanese. He is a citizen of the United States. Sentenced to die for the murder of a policeman at the end of a trial marked by irregularities and racism, Mumia Abu-Jamal will soon complete his 30th year on death row. Would he have suffered the same fate if he had not been what he called the “Voice of the Voiceless, a voice that still makes itself heard from his cell ? Would he still today be the victim of judicial persecution by a Pennsylvania district
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, ORE., ARIZ., MO., ILL., USA, FLA.
Oct. 7 TEXAS: Texas Court of Appeals denies relief for death row inmate in wife’s murder for hire A former police officer and Atascocita resident twice sentenced to death in the murder for hire of his wife has lost his appeal with the Texas Court of Appeals in a decision filed Wednesday, Oct. 5. Robert Alan Fratta, now 54, first received the death penalty for plotting the 1994 fatal shooting of his wife, Farah, in 1996. Fratta was granted a new trial in 2009 after 13 years on death row when a Harris County jury again sentenced him to die, starting the appeals process all over again. Yesterday, the Texas Court of Appeals, however, found Fratta’s proposed 32 points of error during his latest jury trial without merit. “This is the 1st step post-conviction that will hopefully finally lead to justice for the Baquer family,” said Andy Kahan, city of Houston crime advocate, referring to the victim’s family. “Seeking justice has been a long, arduous journey for them. It’s still a long way from setting an execution date, but this sets the wheels in motion.” Fratta was convicted of hiring Joseph Prystash and Howard Guidry to murder his estranged wife in November 1994. The couple was undergoing lengthy and hostile divorce proceedings at the time of Farah’s death. On the night of the murder, Fratta created an alibi for himself by taking his children to a bible study class in Humble while Guidry gunned Farah down in the driveway of her Atascocita home. Prystash acted as the getaway driver in the plot. The Texas Appeals Court noted that in his appeal, Fratta “did not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence of guilt” presented at trial. In his appeal, Fratta argued the trial court allowed hearsay testimony as well as evidence of his sexual deviance he claimed prejudiced jurors against him. One juror, Fratta and his attorney alleged, was prejudiced in favor of the death penalty and should not have been selected. Fratta further claims that, when one of his trial attorneys became the center of a probe during the trial, the resulting conflict of interest prevented him from receiving adequate representation. Fratta’s points of error were rejected on all 32 counts. Guidry and Prystash were also sentenced to die in the case and remain on death row. (source: yourhoustonnews.com) OREGONnew execution date Oregon death row inmate Gary Haugen faces tentative Dec. 6 execution Death row inmate Gary Haugen was declared legally sane to be put to death and now faces a tentative Dec. 6 execution date. Marion County Circuit Judge Joseph Guimond said he expects to sign a death warrant soon. Unlike a previous hearing, Haugen did not detail the reasons he wants to be executed. I can't go on, he said. This is going to be one time where I just don't do a lot of talking, because I'm ready, your honor. Because I'm ready. Haugen, 49, in a white prison jumpsuit and with his graying hair pulled back in a ponytail, was in court this morning to answer a series of questions from Guimond to determine whether he is mentally competent to drop his appeals. The judge found that Haugen is able to aid and assist in his defense, that he understood his options and that he was legally sane for the purpose of being executed. The Oregonian’s continuing coverage of Gary Haugen, an Oregon death row prisoner, who wants to initiate the execution process.While Haugen did not say much during the hearing, he did deliver a parting shot to his previous attorneys, W. Keith Goody and Andy Simrin, who were dismissed as his defense lawyers in July. He noted that his current attorneys set aside their personal opposition to the death penalty to honor his rights and wishes. But Goody and Simrin, he said, ignored his objectives and instead called him delusional and mentally incompetent. Wherever you are, he called out to them, how do you like those apples? Because you're sitting where you're sitting and this is what it is. He apologized to the judge, then ended his comments by cursing those who had tried to stop him. His execution would be Oregon's first in 14 years. Harry Charles Moore, who similarly had waived his appeals, was put to death in 1997. (source: The Oregonian) Friday hearing in Oregon death penalty case A court hearing will be held Friday in Salem that may send death row inmate Gary Haugen to the execution he says he wants. The Statesman Journal reports Marion County Circuit Judge Joseph Guimond will ask Haugen a series of questions to determine if he is mentally competent to drop his appeals. If Haugen is found mentally fit, the judge will issued a death warrant and set the date for lethal injection. The 49-year-old was sentenced to death in 2007 for the murder of a fellow prison inmate. His execution would be Oregon's 1st in 14 years. (source: Associated Press) ARIZONAnew death sentence Mesa man gets death in
[Deathpenalty] [SPAM] death penalty news----worldwide
Oct. 7 SAUDI ARABIAexecutions Saudi Arabia executes 8 Bangladeshi nationals 8 Bangladeshi men have been executed in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on Friday. The migrant workers, who were beheaded in public, were sentenced to death for the alleged murder of an Egyptian man in April 2007. Since the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, executions have resumed in Saudi Arabia at an alarming rate. “Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia fall far short of international standards for fair trial and news of these recent multiple executions is deeply disturbing,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Middle East and North Africa. “The Saudi authorities appear to have increased the number of executions in recent months, a move that puts the country at odds with the worldwide trend against the death penalty.” “The government must establish an immediate moratorium on executions in the Kingdom and commute all death sentences, with a view to abolishing the death penalty completely,” she added. The beheadings bring the number of executions in Saudi Arabia this year to at least 58, more than double than the 2010 figures. 20 of those executed in 2011 were foreign nationals. The Bangladeshi men who were executed are Ma'mun Abdul Mannan, Faruq Jamal, Sumon Miah, Mohammed Sumon, Shafiq al-Islam, Mas'ud Shamsul Haque, Abu al-Hussain Ahmed, Mutir al-Rahman. According to reports, the Egyptian man was killed during a clash between the Bangladeshi workers and a group of men who allegedly were stealing electric cable from a building complex where the Bangladeshis worked. 3 other Bangladeshis were sentenced to prison terms and flogging. 2 other Saudi nationals were executed in the northern city of Tabuk, bringing the total number of executions on Friday to ten. Many of those executed in Saudi Arabia in recent years have been foreign nationals, mostly migrant workers from poor and developing countries. Defendants often have no defence lawyer and are unable to follow court proceedings in Arabic. They are also rarely allowed formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. They, and many of the Saudi Arabians who are executed, also have no access to influential figures such as government authorities or heads of tribes, nor to money, both crucial factors in paying blood money or securing a pardon in murder cases. Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress or deception. At least 158 people, including 76 foreign nationals, were executed by the Saudi Arabian authorities in 2007. In 2008 some 102 people, including almost 40 foreign nationals, were executed. In 2009, at least 69 people are known to have been executed, including 19 foreign nationals and in 2010, at least 27 people were executed including 6 foreign nationals. (source: Amnesty International) PAKISTAN: Pakistani Doctor Faces Treason Charges in Bin Laden Case An official Pakistani inquiry into bin Laden's presence in the country recommended that Dr. Afridi be charged with high treason after an exhaustive review of the U.S. strike in May. In view of the record and evidence placed before the commission in relation to Dr. Shakeel Afridi; the commission is of the view that prima facie, a case of conspiracy against the State of Pakistan and high treason is made out against him, the inquiry said in a statement. The commission doesn't have the legal authority to institute charges against Afridi, but its recommendations are likely to be followed. Dr. Afridi was working for a foreign intelligence agency, which is a serious crime in most countries, including the United States. If convicted, the doctor could be sentenced to death. The inquiry's judgment has angered U.S. officials, who consider him a hero. Earlier this year, Dr. Afridi was revealed to have been recruited by the CIA to verify bin Laden's location in a walled compound in Abbottabad, a 2-hour drive north of Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The doctor organized an elaborate sham immunization campaign, sending health workers into bin Laden's compound to try to take DNA sample. The effort failed to gather any evidence as to bin Laden's location, however, even when President Obama decided to mount the raid. Three weeks after the May 2 raid, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate spy agency arrested Dr. Afridi, who is a senior health official in the Pakistani government. He has been in custody ever since, and there have been allegations that Dr. Afridi was severely tortured during questioning. Washington had been pressing the Pakistani government to release the doctor since the end of May, in an effort to get Afridi and his family settled in the U.S. American officials are already in a tense diplomatic
