[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, USA
Jan. 2 OHIO: Judge's rejection of jury's execution recommendation is rare A recent decision by a Cleveland judge to overrule a jury's death sentence recommendation for a triple killer highlights how rare such judicial decisions are. Research by The Associated Press found just eight additional examples of judicial overrides since Ohio's current death penalty law took effect in 1981. That's compared with more than 320 death sentences handed down during the same time period. Overriding death sentences can be politically risky for judges, who are elected in Ohio and many other states, said Doug Berman, an Ohio State University law professor and sentencing expert. Many cases with strong evidence against capital punishment for a defendant are resolved with plea bargains before ever reaching a jury, he added. Those cases typically involve pretrial research turning up strong mitigating evidence - a horrific childhood or mental disabilities, for example - that outweigh what are called aggravating circumstances, such as the brutality of the crime. "It's relatively rare a case will get to a jury verdict if it looks like there's a pretty significant possibility that the mitigators will outweigh the aggravators," Berman said. Cuyahoga County Judge Joan Synenberg cited defendant Douglas Shine Jr.'s prolonged physical and psychological abuse as a child, mental health problems and years of incarceration in sentencing him to life in prison with no chance for parole on Dec. 19 instead of accepting a jury's recommendation for the death penalty. Testimony during the trial's death penalty phase showed that Shine's early childhood was chaotic and "characterized by persistent neglect and physical and psychological abuse," Synenberg said. She noted that Shine lived in youth detention facilities from age 10 to 16 followed by two years in an adult prison. Prosecutors said Shine walked into a Warrensville Heights barber shop in February 2015, pulled two guns from beneath his coat and opened fire, killing 3 people and wounding 2 men and a woman. "Unfortunately, the court gave more weight to the self-serving, unsubstantiated statements of an unrepentant, malingering mass murderer than to the overwhelming evidence that he was fully capable of planning and carrying out this diabolical attack on a crowded barbershop filled with men, women and children," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty said following Synenberg's ruling. Highlights of the 8 other cases in Ohio in which judges have thrown out a jury's death sentence since the state enacted a new capital punishment law in 1981: 1983 -- A jury's death sentence for Drewey Kiser, of Williamsport, convicted of fatally shooting Don Writsel during a robbery, was overridden by Judge Nicholas Holmes Jr. of Ross County Common Pleas Court. Holmes cited Kiser's age, 23; the defendant's lack of a significant criminal history; mental illness; and alcoholism. Holmes also pointed out that a death sentence would not have been proportional to the 3 other death sentences in Ohio at the time. 1987 -- A jury's death sentence for Alonzo Wright, of Cleveland, convicted of fatally shooting Grover Lang during a robbery, was overridden by Judge Frank J. Gorman of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Gorman cited the victim's decision to rush Wright, which apparently led to the shooting, instead of obeying Wright's request for money. 1988 -- A jury's death sentence for John Parsons, of Worthington, convicted of shooting a man as he fled from his burning home, was overridden by Judge Dale Crawford of Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Crawford cited Parsons' background and lack of a prior criminal record and said a death sentence would not be equivalent to 5 other death sentences imposed in Franklin County up to that time. 1989 -- A jury's death sentence for Eddie Robertson, of Dayton, convicted of fatally shooting Stephanie Hiatt in a 1988 robbery, was overridden by Judge William MacMillan Jr. of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. MacMillan cited Robertson's lack of a significant criminal history, his relative youth (30), his pursuit of education beyond high school and the lack of an advance plan to kill anyone. MacMillan said it appeared Robertson shot Hiatt on the spur of the moment, fearing she recognized him. 1999 -- A jury's death sentence for Gregory Crawford, of Valley City, convicted of beating Gene Palmer to death during a robbery, was overridden by Judge Mark Wiest of Wayne County Common Pleas Court. Wiest cited Palmer's age (37), his good behavior in jail, Crawford's strong relationship with his family, his work completing his high school degree and his religious conversion. 2000 -- A jury's death sentence for Christopher Fuller, of Hamilton, convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter after trying to rape her, was overridden by Judge Matthew Crehan of Butler County Common Pleas Court. Crehan cited
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Jan. 2 KUWAIT: Kuwait sentences parents to death for killing toddlerKuwait's interior ministry says the parents were drug addicts A court in Kuwait on Monday, January 2, sentenced a couple to death after finding them guilty of torturing their 3-year-old daughter until she died, it said in a statement. The parents, both Kuwaitis, were arrested in May and accused of beating and torturing the girl until she died and then keeping her body in a freezer for a week. The court statement only gave the verdict but, according to media reports at the time of their arrest, they had been annoyed by their daughter's constant crying. The father, 26-year-old Salem Buhan, and mother, 23-year-old Amira Hussein, were charged with murder after police found burn marks on the shoulders and legs of the toddler's body, according to the interior ministry. The ministry also said they were drug addicts. The verdict is not final as it must be reviewed by the appeals and supreme courts. Executions in Kuwait are carried out by hanging. Barring the execution of 5 men in mid-2013, the Gulf emirate has stopped executing people since 2007 although dozens of men and women are on death row. (source: rappler.com) PHILIPPINES: Death penalty is no guarantee of a crime-free Philippines (This column gives way to the following article on the now-raging issue of the re-imposition of the death penalty written by Dr. Ricardo S.D. Ledesma, an active Church leader and a Papal Awardee, "Pro-Ecclesia et Pontificie." A physician, he was former president of the of the Laity of Manila. He sent the article to this columnist with his request that it be considered for publication.) During these stressful times, our country is enveloped with more shadows than light, more darkness of fear, doubts, hopelessness, and anxiety with the rising cases of extrajudicial killings, drug addictions, and acts of terrorism. People are living in darkness. There is an impending crisis in our country... crisis of FAITH and a crisis of HOPE. As the year 2016 draws to a close, we are reminded of the wonderful script of CHRISTMAS, intensely preparing for the joyous coming of JESUS, our Savior and Redeemer. Recent available surveys showed that many Filipinos are getting discouraged by the sad state of the nation with more than 6,000 lives reportedly lost to unresolved extrajudicial killings (EJKs) being linked to war on illegal drugs. Daily print, broadsheets, and TV channels show gruesome photographs of corpses covered by cardboards with print messages, "I am a fixer," "I am a pusher." "Do not emulate me." The story of Christmas although ancient is always made new - "how God became flesh and lived among us, to be like us in all things but sin... to be "Emmanuel" reminding men and women that God is with us at all times. Our welcoming Jesus this Christmas is to highlight that Jesus is the "Unconquered Son of Justice" who come to dispel the darkness of the world held captive by sin and ignorance. His coming tells us that He made Himself human to be one of us, to bring His love to all of us, especially the poor, the orphan, sick, disabled, and the oppressed. For the past 6 months, people have been seriously bothered by a growing concern on the government's brutal war on drugs, and lately the urgent priority to pass the death penalty by the Committee on Justice in the House of Representatives. Our celebration of Christmas is a celebration of LIFE and a celebration of Hope. Jesus Christ came to liberate human beings from the clutches of sin and death. The first purple candle lighted on the First Sunday of Advent signified that JESUS is the light of the world. Revival of the death penalty is not a solution to the mounting crimes of drugs and criminality. There are no scientific or reliable statistical grounds that the death penalty has a significant deterrent effect on rising heinous crimes. On the contrary, death penalty has produced more collateral negative damage such as it does not discourage criminals from recommitting the same crimes but it encourages a cycle of revenge from relatives or friends, and creates more suffering to families of victims. Let us be reminded of the message of Pope Francis, a Call to Mercy, "to open our hearts to the mercy of God and to treat one another with love. Let us enable the power of God's love to transform our lives" (Urbi et Orbi). The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy may have closed this year but Pope Francis in his apostolic letter "Missericordia et Misera" emphasized the "work of mercy must continue." The Catholic Church is absolutely opposed to the death penalty in any form or circumstances. It is immoral and violates the right of LIFE. Only God can fill such shadows of rising unresolved EJKs. The bigger attendance of devotees during the 9-day "Simbang Gabi" showed to their strong faith that the Church and God are their final refuge.
