[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
August 31 TAIWANexecution Taiwan carries out 1st execution in 2 years amid anti-death penalty pleas Taiwan executed a death-row inmate on Friday, the 1st execution carried out under President Tsai Ing-wen's government and despite ongoing calls from rights groups to abolish the death penalty. Lee Hung-chi was executed at a jail in southern Kaohsiung city Friday afternoon by firing squad, according to the justice ministry, for killing his ex-wife and 5-year-old daughter in 2014. Lee stabbed his ex-wife to death outside the kindergarten their 2 daughters attended and then took 1 of the girls to his car, where he attempted to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Lee survived after they were rescued but the girl died 2 months later despite treatment. "His actions were brutal and ruthless ... and inflicted irreparable harms to the victims' families," deputy justice minister Chen Ming-tang told reporters, adding that the court had ruled there was no likelihood of Lee reforming. Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a 5-year hiatus, with the death penalty reserved for the most serious crimes such as aggravated murder and kidnapping. Some politicians and rights groups have called for its abolition, but various opinion surveys show majority support for the death penalty. Chen said the government was gradually decreasing its use, but would not abolish it for now. "Abolishing death sentence is an international trend and a long-term goal for the justice ministry ... but there is no consensus in our country," Chen said. There are currently 42 prisoners on death row in Taiwan. Lee's execution was the 1st since a former college student was put to death in May 2016 for killing 4 people in a random stabbing spree on a subway that shocked the generally peaceful island. In 2012 the murder of a young boy in a playground reignited the debate over the death penalty after the suspect reportedly said he was anticipating free board and lodging in jail and would get a life sentence at most even if he were to kill 2 or 3 people. (source: newsinfo.inquirer.net) Taiwan executes convict on president's birthdayMurderer was 1st convict to be executed since president took office in May 2016 A man who stabbed his former wife to death outside a school and caused the death of a 6-year-old daughter became the 1st death row convict to be executed since President Tsai Ing-wen came to office in May 2016. Even though Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party includes several prominent opponents of capital punishment, the practice still receives overwhelming support from the public according to opinion polls. Lee Hung-chi, 39, was shot Friday afternoon, the Ministry of Justice said. It added he formed a serious threat to law and order and showed no possibility of remorse. Before the murder, he had already spent 11 months in prison for violating a restraining order and trying to kill both his daughters and commit suicide. In April 2014, he first stabbed his ex-wife to death and then abducted 1 of their 2 daughters from the school. Having driven to a mountainous area, he drugged the girl and burned charcoal inside the car in order to cause both of their deaths, according to the Apple Daily. He survived, but the girl died 2 months later, the Central News Agency reported. The Kaohsiung District Court sentenced him to life in prison, a combination of a 15-year jail term for killing his wife and life for the death of their daughter. However, the Taiwan High Court changed the sentences to life for the death of his ex-wife and capital punishment for the death of the girl. In 2016, the Supreme Court confirmed the verdict, making it the 1st death sentence issued since Tsai was sworn in as president. The Ministry of Justice said the order for Lee's execution was signed on Thursday, and rejected reporters' questions about a link with the fact that the president was marking her 62nd birthday Friday. Taiwan's most recent execution until now occurred just days before Tsai took over, when student Cheng Chieh was shot for killing 4 people on a Taipei Mass Rapid Transit train. With Lee's death, there were reportedly still 42 convicts on death row in Taiwan. (source: Taiwan News) CANADA: Canadians shouldn't support executions Canadians can influence Florida's death penalty, Aug. 26 Dec. 11, 2018 will mark 56 years since 2 men were hanged in Canada. These last state-sanctioned executions to happen here took place at Toronto's infamous Don Jail in 1962. In 1976, Canada abolished capital punishment. Before some Canadians take issue with Florida's use of the death penalty - a punishment I am against - we should take note of our own country's attitude to sanctioning state murder. Believe it or not, most Canadians favour bringing back capital punishment, even while Americans are slowly moving
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----FLA., ALA., MO., OKLA., NEB., CALIF., USA
August 31 FLORIDA: Supreme Court rejects death penalty appeals The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected appeals by 3 death row inmates in decades-old cases, including the 1991 murder of a Fort Pierce police officer. The rulings were part of a long line of similar decisions in cases rooted in a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court decision. In 1 of Thursday's cases, justices turned down an appeal by death row inmate Billy Leon Kearse, who was convicted in the murder of Fort Pierce police officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop, according to court records. In another case, justices rejected an appeal by death row inmate Stephen Todd Booker, who was convicted in the 1977 murder of 94-year-old Lorine Demoss Harmon in Alachua County. In the 3rd case, justices denied an appeal by Ian Deco Lightbourne, who was convicted in the 1981 sexual battery and murder of Nancy O'Farrell in Marion County. Each of the appeals related to a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case known as Hurst v. Florida and a subsequent Florida Supreme Court decision. The 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found Florida's death-penalty sentencing system was unconstitutional because it gave too much authority to judges, instead of juries. The subsequent Florida Supreme Court ruling said juries must unanimously agree on critical findings before judges can impose death sentences and must unanimously recommend the death penalty. But the Florida Supreme Court made the new sentencing requirements apply to cases since June 2002. That is when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling known as Ring v. Arizona that was a premise for striking down Florida's death-penalty sentencing system in 2016. In each of the cases Thursday, the death row inmates had been sentenced to death before the Ring decision and argued that the new requirements should also apply to their cases. But the Supreme Court said the Hurst requirements should not retroactively apply to the inmates. (source: News Service of Florida) *** Man writes heartless letter about killing gay couple before judge orders executionHe saw it as his 'duty as a white man' Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes ordered the execution of Peter Avsenew for the murder of a gay couple in 2010. In January, a jury found Avsenew guilty of killing Steven Adams and Kevin Powell in north Florida. They sentenced him to death. He showed no remorse at the sentencing, and flipped off the victims' families before being led out of the court room. 'I have no regrets in my life and I am proud of the decisions I've made,' he told the jury. 'No one really knows what happened that day.' Avsenew, 33, killed the couple a few days before Christmas 8 years ago, and then stole their car to escape. Broward County, Florida passed a new last year, saying juries must be unanimous to issue the death sentence. Holmes could have overturned their sentence, but decided not to. Avsenew wrote a letter to the judge, revealing his hateful feelings. 'It is my duty as a white man to cull the weak and timid from existence,' the letter read. 'Homosexuals are a disease to mankind and must be put down.' Missy Badget, a sister of one of the victims, said she was happy Avsenewe got the death penalty after what he did and the gesture he made on the day of sentencing. (source: Gay Star News) ALABAMA: No bond for man charged with capital murder in Mobile A man charged with 2 counts of capital murder in the beating death of a 70 year old Mobile man was arraigned Thursday. Timothy Hall, Junior is the son of Mobile Municipal Court Judge Shelbonnie Hall. A district attorney from outside Mobile was brought in to prosecute the case. Hall was arrested for the beating death last August of 70 year old Larry Willingham during a home invasion on Pleasant Valley Road in broad daylight. Defense Attorney Art Powell said, "He just entered a not guilty plea to a two count indictment charging him with capital murder, and the state has indicated they're going to seek the death penalty. So, it's going to be a very long drawn out process." Spencer Walker represents Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw Counties. Mobile District Attorney Ashley Rich recused herself from prosecuting Hall. A special judge, Braxton Kittrell, heard the case. The prosecution wants to get a sample of Hall's DNA. Powell said the state's filed a motion to take a swab for saliva from his mouth. Walker said, "I would say that that there's forensic evidence that was collected at the scene that we would like to compare with the defendant." Judge Kittrell ordered Hall held on no bond. Walker said, "In the criminal justice system, certainly a capital case is the most serious crime on the books, but, so, it's a very important case. We've got a victim who's lost his life and we've got a young man who may lose his if convicted by a jury of his peers." Walker talked briefly about how he
