[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Nov. 28 UNITED KINGDOM: Paul Nuttall elected leader of UKIP leader in landslide victoryThe MEP for North West England and former deputy party leader saw off the competition to win 62.6 % of the vote Paul Nuttall has been elected as the new leader of UKIP, taking over from interim leader Nigel Farage after a period of turbulence for the party. The MEP for North West England and former deputy leader comfortably saw off the competition to win 62.6 % of the more than 15,000 members who voted. 2nd placed was former co-chair Suzanne Evans, who got 2,973 votes (19.3 %), with Welsh activist John Rees-Evans in 3rd place with 2,775 votes (18.1 %). In his victory speech Nuttall said: "Only unity breeds success. People do not vote, join or donate to divided parties. "So those within the party who want to come together and unite I say 'we have a great and successful future'. "To those who do not want to unify and want to continue fighting the battles of the past, then I'm afraid your time in UKIP is coming to an end." The contest was triggered after Diane James resigned as leader earlier this month, just 18 days into the job following her victory at the last race in September. Nuttall was the clear favourite in the contest from the moment he declared his bid and positioned himself as the "unity" candidate hoping to smooth over fractious rows in the party. He launched his campaign after MEP Steven Woolfe quit UKIP and dropped out of the race following an altercation with colleague Mike Hookem landed him in hospital. The race also saw fellow MEP Bill Etheridge, London Assembly member Peter Whittle and Raheem Kassam, a former aide to Nigel Farage, put themselves forward only to withdraw later. Nuttall now faces a fight to keep UKIP relevant in the aftermath of the EU referendum and amid dire financial circumstances after the party received less in donations than the BNP in the last reported period. The central tenet of his plan is to win further votes from former Labour supporters after UKIP made major inroads in Labour heartlands at the last election. Elsewhere, Mr Nuttall has said he would back the return of the death penalty for child killers if it were put to the country in a referendum. "I would vote in favour of the return of the death penalty for people who kill children, people like Ian Brady, people like Ian Huntley, which is what the majority of British people want," he said earlier this month. (source: holyrood.com) ___ A service courtesy of Washburn University School of Law www.washburnlaw.edu DeathPenalty mailing list DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty Unsubscribe: http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/options/deathpenalty
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----WASH., USA
Nov. 28 WASHINGTON: Lawyer: Death penalty 'not right choice' in Mukilteo shootings Allen Ivanov's attorneys plan to ask a judge to give them more time to compile information about the young man and his background in an effort to convince prosecutors not to seek the death penalty. Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe has given the defense team until Friday to provide him with materials to take under consideration before he decides whether to pursue Ivanov's execution. Roe has said he'd announce his decision by mid-December. Ivanov's "life continues to have value," defense attorney Walter Peale wrote in an email to The Daily Herald. "With more time I'm confident I can show why the death penalty is not the right choice for the victims' families. If convicted or if he were to enter a guilty plea, a life sentence will avoid endless delay, provide closure and avoid extreme cost," he wrote. Peale said if Roe is going to present the mitigation materials to the survivors for their consideration, he wants them to have a full picture of Ivanov, 20. The crime he is accused of committing is a "terrible and senseless act," Peale wrote. His client, however, if he's convicted, is "not the worst of the worst." Peale referenced several recent aggravated murder cases in which prosecutors didn't seek the death penalty or jurors spared the defendants their lives. "Allen is less deserving of death than they and certainly less deserving of death than the Green River Killer who is now serving a life sentence in prison," Peale wrote. His client is immature and naive. "His history and young life show a pattern of mental illness, untreated but suspected. His behavior before and now is a cry for help as it is a confession to a terrible crime," the longtime defense attorney wrote. Ivanov is charged with aggravated murder in the killings of Anna Bui, Jacob Long and Jordan Ebner, all 19. He's also accused of trying to kill Will Kramer, who was shot in the back, and 2 other young men, whom the defendant allegedly shot at as they ran for cover. In Washington, the only punishment for an aggravated murder conviction is death or life in prison without the possibility of release. Gov. Jay Inslee enacted a moratorium on executions shortly after taking office. That doesn't prevent county prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty. Ivanov allegedly told detectives that he ambushed Bui, his former girlfriend, and her friends at the Mukilteo house party because he was upset over the end of their relationship. He had broken up with her a few months before the shootings. She reportedly rejected his efforts at reconciliation. About 20 people were at the house party when Ivanov opened fire. Most of the young people had graduated from Kamiak High School. The Daily Herald recently obtained a letter Ivanov wrote prior to the killings, along with hundreds of text messages. The materials show that Ivanov was considering shooting Bui days before he tracked her down to the party. In the letter, he tried to control the narrative even before he began pulling the trigger. "You know what's funny? The media is going to portray me as some unstable, overly emotional, crazy lunatic," he allegedly wrote. "There's nothing wrong (with) me or the way I think. There's really nothing wrong with me: I have a roof over my head, access to food and resources, a loving family, an amazing job, etc. I'm selfish. That's why I did this." The Daily Herald also was provided a jailhouse letter Ivanov allegedly wrote in October to a former cellmate, a man convicted of murdering a Lynnwood piano teacher. The letter included rap lyrics that glorify violence and reference the mass shooting in Mukilteo. Peale said his client is remorseful but overwhelmed. "He is not prepared for the conditions he faces now in jail," Peale wrote. "His musings are a way to come to grips with a possible sentence that will keep him in prison for the rest of his life or kill him." His client doesn't have any prior legal problems or a history of violence. "He finds himself in a completely foreign situation," Peale wrote. Ivanov's writings likely will be scrutinized by both sides as they explore the young man's state of mind before the shooting and afterward. That could be at the heart of the case if his lawyers decide to present information about his mental health as a possible explanation for his actions. Roe has denied the request for more time, Peale said. The defense attorneys plan to ask Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis to weigh in. (source: The Herald) USA: Accused Emanuel AME Church shooter to represent himself in death penalty trial A federal judge granted a motion to allow accused Emanuel AME Church shooter to represent himself in trial. Wearing a gray-and-blue striped prison outfit Monday morning, 22-year-old Dylann Roof told Judge Richard Gergel he understood his attorneys have
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Nov. 28 VIETNAM: 6 arrested in drug smuggling busts over the weekend About 100 kilograms of heroin and 60 kilograms of marijuana were seized on Saturday. 6 Vietnamese and Laotian people were arrested for smuggling heroin and marijuana on Saturday as Vietnamese authorities increased their crackdown on criminals. Police in the northern province of Phu Tho arrested 4 men at 11 p.m. on Saturday who were carrying about 100kg of heroin in 2 cars in Viet Tri. Vang A Cang (42), Mua A La (43), Mua A Sau (30) and Vang A Du (28) all come from the Moc Chau District in the mountainous province of Son La, which borders Laos. Cang, the gang leader, had promised to pay La and Sau VND100 million ($4,327) each, and Du VND200 million ($8,654). Also on Saturday, border guards and police in Vietnam's central province of Ha Tinh detained 2 Laotian men for smuggling about 60kg of marijuana across the border. The men, 31 and 17, were arrested near Vietnam's Can Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh Province at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The Laotians said they intended to carry the drugs from Laos to sell in Vietnam. On October 24, 2 other Laotian men were also arrested in Vietnam's central province of Thanh Hoa for smuggling nearly 23kg of heroin across the border. Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 75 kilograms of marijuana, more than 600 grams of heroin, more than 5 kilograms of hashish, or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death. Although the laws are strictly enforced with capital punishment handed down regularly, drug running continues in border areas. Several drug raids are reported at the Vietnam-Laos border every month. (source: vnexpress.net) TURKEY: AKP deputy head Turkes says he is against reintroduction of death penalty Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair Tugrul Turkes has said he is against the reintroduction of the death penalty, a hotly-debated issue since Turkey's failed July 15 military coup attempt. "I think the reintroduction will bring more harm than benefits. It's also difficult to bring it back," Turkes told daily Hurryet, adding that he had voiced his opinion on many platforms. "We've been talking about this with our lawmaker friends and they all know that I'm against it," he said. Turkes also stated thatconstitutional changes were not possible under the state of emergency in Turkey, commenting on recent debates on a charter change. "The charter cannot be changed under the state of emergency," Tugrul Turkes told daily Hurriyet, adding that charter changes were absolute agreement texts. "Charter changes are absolute agreement texts. The Republican People's Party is the main opposition and carries responsibilities," he also said. Saying the "CHP cannot solve the constitutional change issue on the street," Turkes said the decision to lengthen the state of emergency had not yet been given. "We'll see if the state of emergency will be extended, but a country in a state of emergency cannot change its constitution," he added. Turkey declared a 3-month long state of emergency after the July 15 failed coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. It was later extended for another 3 months. During his interview, Turkes also said his ideas on the timing of the constitutional change may cause debates inside the party. "If it creates a debate it's fine because this needs to be discussed inside the party," he also said. (source: Hurriyet Daily News) INDIA: HC acquits 3 death convicts in murder case Citing severe discrepancies in the prosecution's case, the Hyderabad high court on Friday acquitted 3 convicts, who were sentenced to death in a murder for gain case.The bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice M Seetharama Murti, acquitted Yekkaluri Siva Krishna alias Yogi, Akkinapalli Muralikrishna alias Murali, and Pappula Amar Nageswara Rao, who were accused of murdering Banawath Badya Naik, an engineer at Nagarjunasagar project in 2011. Earlier, a special sessions judge-cum-IV additional district judge of Guntur had sentenced them, natives of Dachepalli of Guntur district, to death. On February 26, 2011, the 3 picked up Daravath Badya Naik, while he was returning from Vijayawada after meeting his son in a college hostel. They killed the engineer when he resisted them and dumped the body in a canal, before escaping with some gold and Rs 3,500 in cash. . AP's public prosecutor Posani Venkateswarlu justified the death penalty for the accused on the ground that they were notorious decoits who would not hesitate to kill their victims even for smaller gains. He said the state would appeal
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----PENN., USA
Nov. 28 PENNSYLVANIA: 'Death row saved my life' The incredible story of Nick Yarris, the wrongly convicted British resident who spent 23 years on death row ... and is now having a Netflix series made about him; After spending 8,057 days behind bars, Yarris was cleared by DNA evidence and released in 2004 A new Netflix drama will revolve around the incredible true story of a British resident who spent decades on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Nick Yarris, 55, faced death by electric chair after being framed for the rape and murder of a woman in Pennsylvania, where he is from. But the cleared inmate was innocent all along, and knew he had been falsely sentenced as he spent an agonising 23 years counting down the days until his execution. After spending 8,057 days behind bars, Yarris was cleared by DNA evidence and released in 2004, but his chilling prison experience will stay with him to the grave. Now the father-of-4 is going to be the subject of a new Netflix drama, and has spoken out in great depth about his dark and terrifying experiences. The American, who now lives Yeovil, Somerset, has written a harrowing book about his experiences, and recently appeared on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme to talk about a life spent waiting to die. And his book, The Fear OF 13: Countdown to Execution: My Fight for Survival on Death Row, is going to be made into a Netflix drama as well as a movie, both based on his experiences on death row. Yarris' nightmare ordeal started in 1981, when the then 19-year-old was arrested in a stolen car for jumping a red light. The alcoholic and drug addict ended up in a scuffle with a policeman, whose gun was discharged during the brawl - leading to Yarris being charged with attempted murder. Whilst he was in custody, the American teen read about the rape and murder of a young mum, and came up with a dishonest plan to bargain his way out of prison. Yarris made up information about the attack, and accused a man, who he believed to be dead, of carrying out the rape and murder of fellow Pennsylvanian Linda Craig. But his lies were quickly rumbled, and Yarris ended up accused of the murder himself, before being sentenced to death on flimsy evidence - despite his protested innocence. Whilst in prison, Yarris was beaten by fellow inmates, and spent decades surrounded by murderers, rapists and cannibals. The ordeal nearly drove him to suicide, but Yarris found solace in education, claiming he wanted to "make [his] mind beautiful." Now free from the daily torture he faced behind bars, and given $4million (3.2million pounds ) in compensation for his wrongful imprisonment, the falsely accused dad has had time to reflect on his experiences. The Daily Mail reported that he has previously claimed to have a bond with his fellow death row inmates. Yarris said: "For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people. "I cared about them. I believe life imprisonment is far worse than the death penalty." And despite the trauma, the British resident has also previously said: "Prison was the best thing that happened to me. "I have a photograph of the street gang I was in when I was a teenager. There were 27 of us, 26 are dead now. "Death row saved my life. "It taught me everything is a luxury to be treasured." (source: thesun.co.uk) USA: Jury selection to begin Monday in federal death penalty trial of admitted Charleston church shooter Monday morning jury selection begins in the federal death penalty trial for admitted Charleston church shooter, Dylann Roof. He admitted to killing 9 people at Emanuel AME church in June of 2015. His trial was supposed to start earlier this month but the judge postponed it in order to evaluate his mental state. On Friday, the judge declared Roof *competent* to stand trial. Jury selection is set to begin at 9 a.m. (source: WJBF news) ___ A service courtesy of Washburn University School of Law www.washburnlaw.edu DeathPenalty mailing list DeathPenalty@lists.washlaw.edu http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/listinfo/deathpenalty Unsubscribe: http://lists.washlaw.edu/mailman/options/deathpenalty
