[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
September 11 TAIWAN: Taiwan's Resumption of Executions Is a Major Diplomatic Own-Goal Taiwan can't effectively preach soft power while continuing to execute its citizens. On the afternoon of Friday Aug. 31, Lee Hung-chi was executed by firing squad at a jail in Kaohsiung. His crime was a heinous one. In April 2014, Lee, now 39, stabbed his ex-wife to death outside the kindergarten attended by their 2 young daughters. He then abducted 1 of the girls and drove into the mountains where he drugged her, before setting fire to charcoal in the car. His objective was for them both to die, but they were rescued. Lee later made a full recovery, but his daughter died in hospital 2 months later. Lee was initially handed a 15-year sentence for the murder of his wife, and a life term for causing the death of his daughter. However, Taiwan's High Court later increased the sentences to life in prison for his wife's murder and the death sentence for his daughter's death. These sterner sentences were subsequently upheld by Taiwan???s Supreme Court in 2016. It is easy to look at the mainstream media coverage of Lee's execution and think the decision to proceed was a straightforward one. According to the Ministry of Justice statement announcing the execution, Lee had shown no remorse and indicated that he still felt the need to gain revenge against his ex-wife's family over her taking custody of his daughters. It went on to claim that Lee therefore continued to pose a serious threat to law and order. But as we have seen time and again around the world, the decision for the state to execute someone has to take into account far more than the individual circumstances and crimes committed. And in Taiwan's unique political position, such broader considerations are even more important. When making decisions over death-row inmates, it seems unlikely that Taiwanese officials give much consideration to the diplomatic implications of the use of capital punishment. That would require the kind of joined-up government that Taiwan is not exactly renowned for. But such considerations should take place because the impact this latest execution has had on Taiwan's international reputation has been profound. This execution comes at a time when Taiwan's standing in the developed world is at something of a high. In the face of ongoing political and diplomatic aggression from the Communist regime in China, Taiwan has retained a dignified position and implemented various effective soft-power strategies which have won admiration around the world. The widespread condemnation of Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea and its use of debt-diplomacy to lure the support of Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies has resulted in a steady stream of critical government statements and an increase in negative headlines about China around the world. All of this is to Taiwan's advantage. Meanwhile, Taiwan's soft-diplomacy continues to make inroads with the New Southbound Policy, which notionally adopts a people-centric approach to overseas outreach, beginning to reap real rewards in terms of growing tourism and trade links. The United States in particular has shown huge support to Taiwan in recent times, passing several pieces of pro-Taiwan legislation to allow things like greater military oversight and inter-governmental exchanges. However, all of this progress has taken a knock as a result of the decision to execute Lee because, with the exception of the U.S., there is no other developed democratic country on earth which condones capital punishment. The Executive Director of the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP), Lin Hsinyi told The News Lens that, not long after the Ministry of Justice announced the execution of Lee, her organization had fielded calls from the representatives offices of the UK, Germany and the European Union to find out more about what had happened and why. While they knew that the death penalty still existed in Taiwan, they were of the view that, at least under the current administration, it would not be used. Lin Hsinyi spoke at a press conference announcing the release from death row of Cheng Hsing-tse, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a police officer. Cheng was the 5th person to be exonerated after being sentenced to death in Taiwan. That is partly because Lee was the 1st man to be executed under since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016. All 3 offices subsequently released statements condemning the execution, along with many other de-facto embassies in Taiwan. The EU statement described capital punishment as ???a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity." It also made reference to the first EU-Taiwan Human Rights Consultations, which were held as recently as this March. At those
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, PENN., GA., LA., OKLA., NEB., NEV., ARIZ., WASH.
September 11 TEXAS: WTAMU to host a death penalty debate WTAMU students will get the chance to witness a debate on a divisive topic. The school's Department of Criminal Justice will be hosting a debate on the death penalty on September 11 at 6:30 p.m. The debate will host guest speakers James Farren, former district attorney for Randall County, Jeff Blackburn, defense attorney and Dr. Keith Price, retired warden and criminal justice professor. It is free and open to the public and will take place in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT's campus. (source: KFDA news) PENNSYLVANIA: Saranchak leaves death row, will spend life behind bars Daniel M. Saranchak, who murdered his grandmother and uncle in October 1993 in East Norwegian Township, will not be executed for his crimes, but will spend the rest of his life in prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him on Monday. Making it clear that he never wanted to deal with him again, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin imposed 2 consecutive life sentences on Saranchak, 50, of Pottsville, for killing Stella Saranchock and Edmund "Edju" Saranchak, plus an additional 25 to 50 years in a state correctional institution for other crimes. "We're not going to try the case again," Dolbin told a combative Saranchak, who is serving his time at SCI/Greene and participated in the 30-minute hearing by videoconference. "This is the end of the road." In Pennsylvania, a life sentence does not include a chance for parole. Dolbin's resentencing of Saranchak, who made it clear that he disliked the judge, followed Angela M. Regnier, great-niece and cousin of the victims, describing the killer as a heartless man who tore 2 holes in his family. "I have experienced heartache and loss," Regnier testified. "Stella and Edju were loved by many." Monday's hearing ended a 25-year odyssey during which Saranchak came within 45 minutes of execution before a federal judge spared his life. Saranchak pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 1994, before Dolbin to 2 counts each of criminal homicide, robbery, criminal solicitation and conspiracy, 4 of aggravated assault and 1 of burglary. Dolbin then presided over a nonjury degree of guilt hearing with respect to the criminal homicide charges and, on Sept. 8, 1994, convicted Saranchak of 2 counts of 1st-degree murder. Saranchak opted to have a jury decide his sentence; jurors ruled Sept. 16, 1994, that Saranchak should get the death penalty. However, after many appeals in state and federal courts, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2015 that Saranchak did not receive effective legal representation during the sentencing hearing before the jury and overturned his death sentence. Saranchak was to be executed at 7 p.m. Nov. 8, 2000, at SCI/Rockview, Centre County, but the 3rd Circuit issued an order at 6:15 p.m., staying the death sentence to allow for additional appeals. State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Saranchak and Roy W. Miles Jr., New Philadelphia, with entering the Five Points home of Stella Saranchock, 78, and her son, Edmund Saranchak, 57, between 10 p.m. Oct. 15, 1993, and 2 a.m. Oct. 16 and shooting them. Stella Saranchock spelled her last name differently that her son did. Miles pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 1994, to third-degree murder and related offenses. Dolbin sentenced him on Oct. 31, 1994, to serve 11 to 40 years in a state correctional institution. Miles died on Sept. 18, 2017, at SCI/Huntingdon. During Monday's hearing, Saranchak complained about both Dolbin and Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, his newest lawyer. "You're still sitting on this case," but should not be, Saranchak said to Dolbin. He did not make clear why he wanted Dolbin removed from the case. He also complained that Markosky has not adequately represented him. "He's not going to appeal it," Saranchak said of Markosky's reaction to Dolbin's sentence. "He's done nothing." During her testimony, Regnier asked Saranchak questions, to which he paid no attention. "Did she say your name? Did she see you?" Regnier asked of his encounter with his grandmother. "I ask you 1 question, Daniel Michael Saranchak: Was it worth it?" In addition to Regnier, her father, Robert Mestishen; Michele Saranchok-Parker, Edju's daughter and Stella's granddaughter; and Dolores Perzel, Edju's ex-wife, attended Monday's hearing, but none of them spoke during it. Markosky and Senior Deputy Attorney General Andrew M. Notaristefano each declined to comment on the case after the hearing. Defendant: Daniel M. Saranchak Age: 50 Residence: Pottsville Crimes committed: 2 counts each of criminal homicide, robbery, criminal solicitation and conspiracy, 4 of aggravated assault and 1 of burglary Sentence: 2 consecutive life sentences plus an additional 25 to 50 years in a state correctional institution (source: Republican Herald)
