[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., FLA., OHIO, TENN., USA
October 15 TEXASnew death sentence Ronald Haskell Jr. sentenced to death in fatal shooting of 6 members of ex-wife's family Ronald Lee Haskell Jr. has been sentenced to death in the fatal shooting of 6 members of his ex-wife's family in 2014 — which included the execution-style killing of the 4 of the family's children, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors say Haskell, of Utah, traveled from California to Texas on a mission to kill anybody who helped his ex-wife, Melannie Lyon. The couple had recently divorced after more than a decades-long abusive relationship. Haskell spent months planning the murders and 2 days in the Spring, Texas, area stalking the Lyon and Stay family, according to prosecutors. On July 9, 2014, he disguised himself as a FedEx delivery driver and made his way into the Stay residence in Spring, Texas. There, prosecutors say he held 5 of the Stay children hostage at gunpoint until the parents, Katie and Stephen Stay, arrived, forced them all to the ground, and shot them 1-by-1. Katie, who was Lyon's sister, Stephen, and 4 of their 5 children; 4-year-old Zach, 7-year-old Rebecca, 9-year-old Emily, and 13-year-old Bryan, were killed. The 5th child, then-14-year-old Cassidy Stay, survived the shooting despite being shot in the head by playing dead. Now 20, she testified in the case against Haskell. "I hope that when you die, you will get the punishment you deserve from God," she told Haskell at sentencing. After the fatal shooting at the Stay residence, Haskell had reloaded his gun at started for Lyon's parents and brother's residences — but was stopped and arrested before arriving. Law enforcement commended Cassidy in preventing further killings, despite her injuries. "After the murderer left, Cassidy’s quick actions prevented Haskell from carrying out the remainder of his plan to kill 22 members of his ex-wife’s family," read a statement from the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Haskell's defense attorney's argued he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. At sentencing they shifted to life behind bars without a death sentence arguing Haskell suffered from several mental illnesses. Prosecutors rebutted, stating Haskell was a vengeful, manipulative liar who, upon expert witness testimony, faked his mental illnesses. A jury rejected Haskell’s insanity defense Sept. 26 and found him guilty of capital murder. He was sentenced on Friday, October 11, 2019. “The death penalty is only for the worst of the worst,” stated Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. “Haskell meticulously planned and carried out the slaughter of the Stay family and the death sentence handed down by a jury of his peers is appropriate.” (source: mytexasdaily.com) *** Sheriff: Abilene man used pocket knife to kill common-law wife, infant daughter The Abilene man charged with capital murder in the deaths of his common-law wife and infant daughter used a pocket knife to stab them to death, according to the Callahan County Sheriff's Office. Cody Edmund Dixon, 34, was transferred from the Callahan County Jail in Baird to the Taylor County Jail in Abilene on Monday afternoon for security reasons. He will be kept in a jail cell by himself and is on suicide watch. Dixon is accused of killing Alia Rae Hutchison, 22, and their 9-month-old daughter, Aria Ellen Dixon, on Saturday. The Sheriff's Office says Dixon stabbed them with a pocket knife after the couple had a fight. Deputies believe Dixon and Hutchison -- who were living with his sister in Abilene -- were possibly moving back to Wisconsin. Hutchison's body was found on CR 324 between Baird and Putnam. The baby's body had been thrown over a fence. Deputies said Dixon confessed to the murders and said God told him do it. His bond was set at $1.8 million. Investigators say the couple had moved to Abilene a few months ago from Wisconsin, but things weren't going well. "He moved to his mother's house and then to his sister's house and it wasn't going well," said Chief Deputy Rick Jowers of the Callahan County Sheriff's Office. Investigator say Dixon used a pocket knife to kill his wife and baby. Dixon, according to investigators, admitted to the murders. He faces 2 counts of capital murder and he could face the death penalty. (source: KTXS news) NORTH CAROLINA: 2 people may face death penalty for allegedly running over woman at Greensboro Exxon Why? That's what a family is asking after their daughter was run over twice outside an Exxon gas station over the weekend — a bizarre incident that involved five other people who were hit for reasons that are still not clear. Meranda Chantel Watlington, 28, and Fana Anquette Felton, 27, could face the death penalty after allegedly striking the 6 people — critically injuring 3 — and killing 30-year-old Zanelle Tucker. On Monday night, family and friends of Tucker gathered at the
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
October 15 IRANexecution Man Hanged in Southern Iran for Rape Charges IA man was hanged for rape charges at Bandar Abbas prison Saturday. According to Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), a man hanged on Saturday, October 12, at the Iranian southern city of Bandar Abbas. He was arrested and sentenced to death for rape charges 5 years ago. Out of the 110 people who were executed in the 1st half of 2019, 13 were sentenced to death for rape charges. (source: iranhr.net) ** ‘Hanging judge’ hears case of outed Iranian Kurdish singer Notorious hanging judge Mohammad Moqisseh presided over the recent trial of an outed singer, according to reports from Iran. Mohsen Lorestani faced charges of ‘corruption on Earth’ stemming from a conversation on social media. The singer’s lawyer only received notification of the trial after it occurred. As yet, the verdict is unknown. The singer is a famous crooner in a mainly Kurdish western province of Iran. Despite authorities only now announcing his detention, his lawyer says it occurred in March at the singer’s mother’s home in Tehran. Kazem Hosseini said authorities also arrested three others in connection with Mohsen Lorestani’s case. The singer is charged with ‘corruption of Earth’. The charges result from a chat on social media some characterise as ‘flirting’ with another man. “Corruption on Earth’ sometimes carries the death penalty. Last year, Iran executed at least 38 people on charges of ‘waging war against God’ and ‘corruption on Earth’. Mohammad Moqisseh acts as head of a branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Court which the regime uses to persecute ideological opponents. He recently sentenced three women to a combined 55 year’s jail for not wearing headscarves. Iranian lawyers describe him as ignorant of even the simplest judicial concepts. He often disposes of trials in minutes, refuses defendants access to lawyers and frequently imposes the death penalty. Moqisseh first came to attention in the 1980s when he worked in Tehran prisons. Witnesses claim he played an active role in torturing and executing political prisoners. He later took a key role in the Death Committees which massacred thousands of the regime’s opponents in 1988. “You are Sunni dogs!” He often acts as both prosecutor and judge, ignores due process and screams abuse at prisoners. When sentencing four men to death in 2014 after refusing to allow them to defend themselves he snarled, “Be quiet. You are Sunni dogs who must be hanged!” The Instagram Dancers Moqisseh will also preside over the trials of Iran’s ‘Instagram dancers’. The regime strictly forbids dancing in public and regards posting videos of dancing as an ‘enemy plot’ against the state. The clergy dominated judiciary recently ordered the arrest of three young women over social media posts and obviously intend to make an example of them by assigning their case to the notorious hanging judge. Opaque ‘justice’ system Not announcing the verdict of a trial is commonplace in Iran’s opaque ‘justice’ system. Often, relatives only become aware of a death sentence when a noose suspended from a crane in a town square is placed around their loved one’s neck. It should also come as no surprise if authorities suddenly discover Mohsen Lorestani ‘raped’ another man. For 2 decades now, when faced with outrage over the hanging of homosexuals, the Iranian regime has suddenly presented hitherto unmentioned ‘evidence’ of rape or sexual assault. This is now almost routine, especially whenever the regime feels the need to justify the execution of juveniles. (source: qnews.com.au) PAKISTAN: Court Hands Down Death Penalty To Accused For Killing 3 Persons In Lahore A sessions court on Monday handed down death penalty on 3 counts to a man on proving guilty of killing his wife, mother-in-law and brother-in-law. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 300,000 on accused Ghulam Abbas. Additional District and Sessions Judge Sajeeda Akhtar announced the verdict after hearing detailed arguments of the parties and examining available evidence. The prosecution alleged that accused Ghulam Abbas killed his wife, mother-in-law and brother-in-law over a domestic dispute and solid evidence was available against him. However, the defence counsel argued that the accused was nominated due to personal enmity whereas the murder weapon was also not recovered from him. He pleaded with the court to acquit the accused as solid evidence was not available against him. Ghulam Abbas killed his wife, mother-in-law and brother-in-law over a domestic dispute in Munawan area in 2016. The police had arrested the accused after registration of a case. (source: urdupoint.com) BANGLADESH: 5 Gaibandha war criminals, including 3 of a family, get death The International Crimes Tribunal today handed down death penalty to 5 people of Gaibandha for committing crime
