[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Sept. 30 CHINA: Fears for Yang Hengjun's health amid reports he is being shackled in Chinese detention There are fears Australian writer Yang Hengjun is being shackled with chains to his legs and hands during interrogations at a Beijing detention centre. A family friend has raised concerns over the detention conditions faced by Australian citizen Yang Hengjun in Beijing amid reports the writer is being shackled during interrogations. The 53-year-old Australian citizen has been accused by Chinese authorities of spying since being detained after landing at Guangzhou airport with his family in January. Now a family friend of Dr Yang has shed light on his detention conditions telling the Australian he “wears chains” and is being “tied to a chair” during questioning. “His health condition is not good as a result of seven months of solitude from being under house arrest without access to any other people but interrogators,” the friend said. “He suffers from weakened memory, blood pressure and kidney issues. But he has not collapsed and continues to insist his innocence.” It comes after The Guardian revealed multiple sources describing the same account of Mr Yang’s conditions inside the ministry of state security detention centre. Investigators have reportedly told Mr Hung he is being chained because of the gravity of his alleged crimes and that he could face the death penalty. His interrogations are reportedly lasting up to four hours at a time. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has previously described the conditions faced by Dr Yang as “harsh” raising concerns over a failure to provide him access to lawyers or family visits. “We have serious concerns for Dr Yang’s welfare, and about the conditions under which he is being held,” Ms Payne said last month. Chinese officials have said national security concerns are behind not providing the writer to access to his legal team. But Australian consular officials have still been permitted to make half-hour visits to Dr Yang once a month. In his account of Dr Yang’s detention, the family friend provides an insight into the conditions faced by the Australian writer. The friend said Dr Yang is not being held in solitary confinement. “He doesn’t have to live in total loneliness. He is allowed to walk out of the cell twice a day in the morning and the afternoon, each time for 45 minutes,” he told the Australian. “Police keep asking him the same questions as … before he was transferred to the detention centre." “The interrogations have been reduced from every day when he was under house arrest to once a week, which indicates the police have found no breakthrough in evidence." The Guardian has reported he is able to drink water and purchase additional food supplies including “fruit, biscuits, and chocolate.” He had initially been held under “residential surveillance” before being placed in detention in July and was formally charged on 23 August. Prior to this, Dr Yang ran a popular blog, had written a series of spy novels and had long pushed for democratic reforms in China. He was once a diplomat for China’s ministry of foreign affairs before moving to Australia and becoming an Australian citizen in 2002. Since then he had spent time in the United States as a visiting scholar at Columbia University. China has previously defended its detention of Dr Yang and spoken out against Australia’s criticisms. "China deplores the Australian statement on this case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press conference in August. "Australia should respect China's judicial sovereignty and not interfere in any way in China's lawful handling of the case." (source: sbs.com.au) PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Govt team to get views on death penalty A government team will consult further with the people regarding the law on the death penalty, in particular the method of execution to be used, Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven says. Steven told The National that Justice Secretary Dr Eric Kwa would lead the team. He also said 12 people were currently on death row. “I’ve been working on the death penalty submission mainly because it’s my duty as the attorney-general to reflect the position of the law, especially in this case where the courts have already imposed the penalty,” he said. “I have gone to NEC to approve the method of execution (so) that the implementing agency can implement the court decisions.” The 5 methods recommended by officials tasked to advise the Government are hanging, electrocution (electric chair), lethal injection, beheading and shooting. Steven said Cabinet wanted to move on the issue given the social and community interest in the subject and the history of the law inherited and maintained since independence. “Given the international concern on the subject, whether the death penalty is a deterrent or not, the NEC directed
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----FLA., MO., USA
Sept. 30 FLORIDA: Sievers murder trial set to start Tuesday at the Fort Myers courthouse In a matter of days, two of the people accused of murdering a beloved doctor are expected to finally face justice. Teresa Sievers was murdered 4 years ago. Mark Sievers, 51, and Jimmy Rodgers, 29, will go on trial for the murder of the doctor on Tuesday morning. If convicted, they could face the death penalty. Teresa’s husband, Mark, is accused of hiring Wayne Wright, who is also suspected of hiring Jimmy to carry out the murders. Just twenty days before her murder, Teresa told Mark his “helicoptering is making her crazy.” She goes on to say he cares more about her than himself. However, it is the text message that Mark sent on the morning of her murder that is eerie. He told her, “Good morning babe. I love you.” Teresa, 46, had the back of her head bashed in and was found face down on the kitchen floor on June 29, 2015. Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies said her husband orchestrated the entire murder. He even took out 5 insurance policies on his wife, worth a combined total of $4 million. Initially, the judge set a trial date for June 3, but it was backed due to delayed DNA reports and dozens of motions that had not been sorted through yet. In August, attorneys for Mark and Jimmy said they received 4,700 pages of discovery from the Federal Bureau of Investigation evidence analysis report and need more time to review them. Mark’s attorney said they are not ready for a Tuesday trial due to the severance motion granted to Rodgers. That means this allows him to have a separate trial from Mark. “Every time we come to court, we receive more and more material,” said Kathleen Fitzgeorge, the attorney for Jimmy. “We can’t go right up to Oct. 1 wondering if we’re going to be to be ready or not.” “The expert may go through 2000 of those pages in a day and decide it’s worthless,” said Bruce Kyle, the Lee County judge presiding over the case. “I need more information; he needs to review it; we’re still set for trial. Motion denied.” There are many reasons why this trial is taking so long. We have also received new details in the murder case. Mark and his attorney tried to keep the jury from seeing extremely graphic pictures from the crime scene, but the judge denied that motion. (source: WINK news) * Family remembers 9-year-old Felecia Williams after jury recommends death for her killer A day after the jury recommended death for the man convicted of murdering 9-year-old Felicia Williams, her family is working to keep her memory alive. "She was a great person, lovable, sweet, kind," said Jenny Brinson, her aunt. The family gathered Sunday, sharing memories of the young girl. "My sister was the best and she had so much to offer the world. It’s really sad the way she left this world, but she’s in a better place you know and her legacy will live on forever in our hearts," said her sister, Mecia Williams. "I just want my sister to know that I love her I’m so proud of her that she put up a good fight until the very end and that I will never ever ever forget her," said her sister, Charlecia Adams. This week, a jury convicted Granville Ritchie of sexually battering and killing Williams. The jury unanimously recommended he receive the death penalty. Following the verdict, her mother says justice has been served. "As long as I know he’s in that box for the rest of his life, that’s all I care about because my daughter is up under all that dirt in a box for the rest of her life," said Felecia Demerson on Friday. One day later, loved ones are focused on the little girl's life. "We're still gonna keep her name alive and we’re still gonna celebrate her. I’m gonna celebrate her til the day I die," said Brinson. "And I want people to remember we can prevent stuff like this from happening. I want you all to say her name. I want you to be on the lookout I want you to protect your neighbor’s children," said Mecia Williams. (source: ABC News) MISSOURIimpending execution Death Penalty Opponents Rally to Prevent Scheduled Execution Death penalty opponents have mobilized in an attempt to block next week’s scheduled execution of Missouri inmate Russell Bucklew. He’s been sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Michael Sanders of southeast Missouri’s Cape Girardeau. Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, the NAACP, ACLU, and others want Governor Parson to stop Bucklew’s execution and argue that his brain condition could cause him to suffer a cruel death. Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty says it intends to host a watch party for Becklew. They say they will mourn when he dies or rejoice if Gov. Parson spares him. Russell Bucklew also severely attacked his ex-girlfriend and beat two of her relatives over the heads with a hammer. Parson spokesperson Kelli Jones says the governor has
