[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
September 16 IRANexecution Execution of a Prisoner on Drug-Related Charges 1 prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on the charge of "trafficking, possessing, and selling drugs and carrying out the armed action." According to a close source, on the morning of Saturday, September 15, 1 prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on the charge of "trafficking, possessing, and selling drugs and carrying out armed action". The prisoner, who was transferred to the solitary confinement on Wednesday, September 12, was identified as Aref Rigi, 31. Habibollah Sarbazi, the Baluch civil activist, told IHR, "Aref Rigi denied armed action all the stages of the proceedings." According to a report by the Baluch Activists Campaign, Aref Rigi had been in prison for 6 years. The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far. This is the 4th drug-related execution that has been reported by the statistical department of IHR since the enforcement of the new drug law on November 14, 2017. The new drug law includes a mechanism that leads to a decrease in the number of death sentences and reduces the sentence of the death-row prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment. (source: Iran Human Rights) INDIA: 7 months, 12 death sentences in Madhya Pradesh: Here is what a trial under its new rape law for minors entailsRajkumar was given death in 5 days, the shortest trial in Madhya Pradesh which has seen 12 death sentences in rape cases in 7 months. In the state that set the new rape law for under-12 girls in motion, MILIND GHATWAI on what such a trial entails, and doesn't. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said those who rape minor girls were "not humans", but "pishaach (devils)" and "didn't have the right to live". LOG samjhaate rahe nabbe din tak kuchch nahin hoga (People kept reassuring us nothing would happen for 90 days)," says Radhabai Kol, 62. Ninety days is the usual deadline for police to file a chargesheet. Radhabai's son Rajkumar, 33, was sentenced to death in 5 - the fastest trial in the 12 death sentences handed out by Madhya Pradesh (MP) courts since February this year in the cases of rape of minors. In December 2017, MP became the 1st state in the country to pass a Bill providing for the rapists of girls aged 12 or below to be hanged till death. The minimum punishment, the Bill stated, would be a 14-year rigorous imprisonment or life term till death. This would go up to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in cases of gang rape of girls aged 12 or less. The government passed the Bill after the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report showed that MP witnessed the highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016. Speaking on the Bill, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said those who rape minor girls were "not humans", but "pishaach (devils)" and "didn't have the right to live". After MP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh passed similar legislation, while J and Delhi resolved to do so. Even as MP's Bill was pending with the President, in April this year, the Centre issued an ordinance providing death for the rape of minors, including many provisions of MP???s legislation. In July, the Lok Sabha passed the Bill, which also puts a 2-month deadline on the trial of rape cases, a 6-month time limit for disposal of appeals, and says there will be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. An autorickshaw driver, Rajkumar was accused of taking a 4-year-old girl he drove to school to a secluded spot on July 4, kissing her and penetrating her with his finger. The complaint was lodged on July 6, after the girl's aunt told police she complained of pain while relieving herself. The aunt said the girl accused the "auto wale bhaiyya" of slapping her and threatening to beat her up if she told anyone. Rajkumar was sentenced on July 27. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the "5-day" Katni trial as a case that should be "publicised" so that "people with demonic mentality get scared". The Kotwali Police Station, overseeing a population of about 2.5 lakh, is located in a single-storey building near the town's main square. Of its sanctioned posts of nearly 170, including sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, around 40 are vacant. The Investigating Officer in the Rajkumar rape case, SHO Shailesh Mishra, 53, is not sure of the number of cases he is handling. A wall outside his cabin has pictorial messages on 'good touch' and 'bad touch' for children. The girl's aunt visited the police station late in the night of July 6, he recalls. The FIR was registered at 11.35 pm. Sub-Inspector Manju Sharma, who recorded the minor???s statement, says she got the girl to open up through small talk. ???I said, 'Let's go relieve ourselves???, but she said it hurts. Later
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS
September 16 TEXAS: BP agent named as suspect in slaying of 4 women A Border Patrol agent was arrested Saturday in connection with the slaying of 4 prostitutes in Webb County. Law enforcement said the suspect, 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz, an intel supervisor, has been with Border Patrol for 10 years. Charges against him were still pending as of Saturday afternoon. "We have probable cause to believe that he is responsible for this series of murders, which I would qualify as a serial murderer," said Isidro Alaniz, Webb County district attorney. The Webb County Sheriff's Office said Ortiz confessed to killing all four victims and kidnapping another woman. The woman he allegedly kidnapped escaped and helped authorities find him, said Eduardo Chapa, Sheriff's Office spokesman. Alaniz said Ortiz may face 4 counts of murder and 1 count of aggravated kidnapping. The motive behind the killings is unclear, but Alaniz said that, according to statements that Ortiz gave law enforcement, all four victims were prostitutes. DPS troopers apprehended Ortiz at about 2 a.m. Saturday after law enforcement received information that he had allegedly tried to kidnap a woman. Troopers confronted him at a gas station on Jefferson Street, but he took off running to the nearby Hotel Ava, located in central Laredo, just off Interstate 35, Alaniz said. Ortiz was found in the parking area of the hotel hiding in a truck. He was arrested without incident, Alaniz said. "The county, the city can rest assured we have the serial killer in custody," said Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar. Cuellar added that he believes Ortiz acted alone. The Texas Rangers, which is spearheading the investigation, declined to comment. DPS Sgt. Erick Estrada said Saturday morning that they are not disclosing any new information about the case. All 4 victims were found during the past 2 weeks in a rural, unpopulated area of Webb County. The Rangers began investigating on Sept. 4 after the Sheriff's Office received a report of the discovery of a body in the 300 block of Jefferies Road, near the intersection with Texas Highway 255, otherwise known as Camino Colombia Road. She was identified as Melissa Ramirez, 29, of Laredo. DPS did not disclose how she died but said it was a homicide. According to her obituary, Ramirez was a mother of two. The 2nd victim, 42-year-old Claudine Anne Luera, died Thursday. At about 7:30 a.m. that day, a concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff's Office the discovery of a woman who appeared to have been assaulted. She was found fatally wounded off the roadway near mile marker 436 of Texas 255, about ??? mile east of North U.S. 83. This is close to where Ramirez's body was discovered. Paramedics rushed Luera to a local hospital in critical condition. She was later declared dead. DPS has only said that Luera had head trauma. The 3rd body was found Friday night near North U.S. 83 and I-35. The 4th was discovered Saturday afternoon, following Ortiz's apprehension, near mile marker 14 of I-35, several miles south of North U.S. 83. Their identities have not been released and it was not immediately clear what led law enforcement to discover their bodies. Alaniz, the district attorney, said the cause of death was similar in each homicide. In a statement, Andrew Meehan, assistant commissioner for public affairs for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said his agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General are fully cooperating with all investigators. "Our sincerest condolences go out to the victims' family and friends. While it is CBP policy to not comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, criminal action by our employees is not, and will not be tolerated," Meehan said. In a statement issued Saturday night, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said "establishing and maintaining high standards for Border Patrol agents is a top priority" for his office. "We have advocated for and implemented new standards during the hiring process as well as new standards of professionalism after joining Border Patrol," the statement reads. "Just this afternoon I spoke with CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to talk about the situation in Laredo. We have agreed to work together on the hiring and professionalism of border patrol agents. "We spoke about how more steps need to be taken to make certain that people who want to become Border Patrol agents receive the appropriate psychological screening to ensure that no person who is capable of these type of actions is allowed to join or remain in the ranks. We also spoke about hiring more Professional Responsibility officers so that they can police their own." Cuellar noted in his statement that this is the 2nd case this year that a Border Patrol agent in Laredo has been accused of homicide. In April,
