[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
April 1 PAKISTAN: Pakistan scraps trials before military courts after 4 years Pakistan scrapped terrorism trials before special military courts after the tribunals’ mandate expired on Monday, ending a measure that had been in place for over four years to help authorities curb militant attacks, a government minister said. The country resumed military trials for terror suspects in 2015 and lifted a moratorium on the death penalty after a Taliban attack in December 2014 on a school in Peshawar killed more than 150 people, mostly young students. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the courts were re-introduced under special circumstances and “performed well.” “We were near to eliminating terrorism,” he added. Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government could not bring the matter of extending the courts before parliament, where opposition parties challenge his every move. The measure had to be backed by 2/3 of lawmakers in the 342-seat chamber to pass. Terrorism cases will now be handled by regular courts, notorious for their bureaucracy and slow justice. Khan came to power after elections last summer, promising to clean house and do away with rampant corruption. He has repeatedly demanded that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Zardari return “looted money.” Sharif is currently serving a 7-year prison sentence for corruption and Zardari is facing an investigation for money laundering. Zardari’s aide Farhatullah Babar said the opposition Peoples Party would not support extending the military courts. “The government should strengthen the regular court system instead,” Babar said. Analyst Zahid Hussain said that while the closure of the special military courts might not have a direct impact on Pakistan’s fight against terror, it’s unclear how the remaining cases of those held on terrorism charges would be handled. “The regular courts lack the capability to handle terrorism cases,” Hussain said. “We either have to strengthen the legal system or they need to find a way to extend the military courts.” Rights groups have criticized the military courts and have campaigned against the death penalty in Pakistan, which was largely used to execute common criminals. According to Pakistani officials, the special military tribunals over the past 4 years decided 478 cases and sentenced 284 people to death. Of those, 56 convicted militants have already been executed. Also, 192 other suspects were sentenced to various prison terms. (source: Associated Press) SRI LANKA: President affirms death penalty for convicted drug traffickers President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he has already decided on a period of time to execute capital punishment for convicted drug traffickers who carry out large scale drug smuggling operations while in detention. He was speaking at a mass protest against drugs organised by religious leaders led by Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the Vystwyke Park in Kotahena. President Sirisena said the Government has taken a number of steps to strengthen laws relevant to curbing illicit drug trade. The President stressed that whatever the challenges or obstacles his battle to eradicate the narcotics problem will continue until it achieves a successful conclusion. “My aim is to ensure a drug free future for the next generation.Whatever the challenges, I will continue this fight until a successful conclusion is achieved” he added. President went on to say that all sections of the society irrespective of differences have come together in the battle against drugs today and achieving the goal of a ‘Drug Free Nation’ was not far away. A silent protest march began from a number of Catholic Churches yesterday after the Sunday services where participants carried placards with slogans against illicit drugs.A rally was held at the Vystwyke Park, Kotahena where 3 processions coming from different directions merged together. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and all religious leaders participated at the rally. (source: dailynews.lk) ** President says date set to implement death penalty President Maithripala Sirisena says the date has been set to implement the death penalty. Speaking at an event today, the President said that tough action will be taken against those involved in drug trafficking. He said that the country needs to have strong laws and tough penalties and that punishment must be implemented. As a result he said that the death penalty will be implemented on repeat offenders involved in drug trafficking. Human rights groups and the UN have raised concerns over the President’s decision to implement the death penalty. (source: Colombo Gazette) MALAYSIA: Jong-nam murder: Vietnamese escapes death sentence A Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un escaped the death penalty o
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.H., PENN., ALA., COLO., USA
April 1 TEXASimpending executions Texas Gives Mark Robertson Execution Date of April 11, 2019 Mark Allen Robertson is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CDT, on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. 50-year-old Mark is convicted of the murder of 81-year-old Edna Brau and her 19-year-old grandson Sean Jason Hill on August 19, 1989, in Dallas, Texas. Mark has spent the last 27 years on death row in Texas. Mark was born in Los Angeles, California and spent his early years in a rough, crime filled area of California. Mark dropped out of school after the 10th grade. Growing up, Mark was allegedly abused by his father and was neglected by all parental figures. Mark has a juvenile record. He worked as a cook prior to his arrest. Mark Robertson was friends with Sean Hill, who lived with his grandmother, Edna Brau, in a house in Dallas, Texas. Sean had previously sold Robertson drugs. On August 19, 1989, Robertson and Sean ingested some crystal methamphetamine and went fishing. While fishing, Robertson shot Sean in the back of the head. Robertson then returned to the house to steal the rest of the drugs. Once inside the house, Robertson observed Edna watching television and shot her in the head. Robertson then stole drugs, valuables, and Edna’s blue Cadillac. Robertson then returned home. Upon hearing that the bodies of Sean and Edna had been found, Robertson alleges he had difficulty sleeping and decided to drive to Las Vegas, Nevada. A police officer in Las Vegas performed a routine license check on a blue Cadillac. It registered as stolen. The police officer arrested Robertson after observing him placing the key in the ignition. After reading Robertson his rights, Robertson confessed to the crime to multiple police officers. Robertson also confessed to the murder of 19-year-old Jeffery Saunders, a clerk at a 7-Eleven, on August 9, 1989. During his trial, a psychologist testified that the recent break-up with his girlfriend, and the news that she had obtained an abortion of their unborn child, was a significant stressor in Robertson’s life and would have affected his ability to think rationally. Robertson was eventually sentenced to death for the murder of Edna. He was given separate life prison terms for the murders of Sean and Jeffery. Please pray for peace and healing for the families of the Edna Brau, Sean Hill, and Jeffery Saunders. Please pray for strength for the family of Mark Robertson. Please pray that if Mark is innocent, lacks the mental competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason that evidence will be presented prior to his execution. Please pray that Mark may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already. * Texas Gives John King Execution Date of April 24, 2019 John William King is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CDT, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. John is convicted of the murder of 49-year-old James Byrd, Jr., on June 7, 1998, in Jasper, Texas. John has spent the last 19 years on Texas’ death row. John was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He had previously served time in Texas for burglary and was on parole at the time of the murder. Prior to his arrest, he worked as a carpenter and a laborer. On June 6, 1998, James Byrd, Jr., was attending a party. He was unable to find a ride home from the party and began walking home, about a mile away. A man who had known James for several years, Steven Scott, testified that he observed James riding in the back of an “old-model, step-side pickup truck tainted primer-gray.” Steven also noted that there were 3 white people in the truck. James was an African-American. On June 7, 1998, police responded to a call and discovered the body of an African-American male lying in the road. The head, neck, and right arm were missing and discovered approximately a mile and a half up the road. The remains of the victims pants and underwear were around his ankles. Police also discovered a smeared blood trail that went approximately a mile and half down the road to a dirt logging road. On the logging road, police found a wallet that contained identification for James Byrd, Jr. Along the blood trail, police also found James’ dentures, keys, shirt, undershirt, and watch. The blood trail ended at an area where a fight appeared to have taken place. At this site, police discovered several other items, including a cigarette lighter engraved with the words “Possum” and “KKK,” a button from James’ shirt, James’ baseball cap, and nut driver wrench inscribed with the name “Berry.” That evening, police stopped a man named Shawn Berry for an unrelated traffic violation. Behind the front seat was a set of tools matching the one found at the fight scene. Berry was
