capital punishment
President Murmu Rejects Mercy Plea in Child Rape-Murder Case: Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence
Dec 16, 2025 09:34 am CST
President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy petition of Ravi Ashok Ghumare, convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a two-year-old girl in Maharashtra in 2012. The Supreme Court previously upheld his death sentence, citing the brutal nature of the crime against a helpless child. This marks President Murmu's third mercy plea rejection since taking office in 2022.
Iranian Woman Executed for Murdering Four-Year-Old Stepdaughter Under Islamic Law of Retribution
Dec 13, 2025 03:24 pm CST
A woman in northwestern Iran was executed after being convicted of killing her four-year-old stepdaughter under qisas, the Islamic law of retribution. The execution, carried out at dawn on Saturday, was demanded by the victim's mother and upheld by Iran's Supreme Court. Iran remains the world's second highest implementer of capital punishment after China, according to human rights organizations.
Florida Executes Mark Allen Geralds for 1989 Home Invasion Murder, Setting New State Execution Record
Dec 10, 2025 10:14 am CST
Florida has executed Mark Allen Geralds, 58, for the 1989 murder of Tressa Pettibone during a home invasion, marking the state's 18th execution this year and setting a new annual record. Geralds, who was convicted in 1990, died by lethal injection at Florida State Prison after declining further appeals. Evidence included blood-stained jewelry he pawned on the day of the murder and matching plastic ties used to bind the victim.
Alabama's Controversial Nitrogen Gas Execution: Anthony Boyd Put to Death for 1993 Murder Despite Constitutional Concerns
Oct 24, 2025 04:57 pm CST
Alabama executed Anthony Boyd using nitrogen gas for a 1993 murder involving a $200 drug debt. The execution, which appeared to last longer than previous ones, has reignited debate about this controversial method. Boyd maintained his innocence until his death at age 54, while his spiritual adviser described the execution as "the worst one yet." The case highlights ongoing tensions between state justice systems and constitutional concerns about cruel punishment, with three Supreme Court justices dissenting against the execution.
Ruth Ellis: Britain's Last Executed Woman and Her Family's Fight for Posthumous Justice
Oct 23, 2025 11:31 am CST
Seventy years after Ruth Ellis was hanged for murdering her abusive lover, her grandchildren seek posthumous pardon, highlighting how domestic abuse victims were failed by the 1950s justice system. Ellis's case, which contributed to the abolition of capital punishment in Britain, represents an ongoing fight for justice for victims of domestic violence.
Iran Executes Man for Espionage: Individual Convicted of Collaborating with Israeli Intelligence
Oct 20, 2025 01:45 am CST
Iran has executed an unidentified man in Qom prison after he was convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad. The execution, confirmed by Iran's judiciary, follows several others amid rising tensions between the two nations after their 12-day conflict in June. The man reportedly began contact with Israeli intelligence in October 2023 and confessed to transmitting confidential information online before his arrest in early 2024.
Supreme Court Questions Government Opposition to Lethal Injection Option for Death Row Inmates
Oct 15, 2025 08:27 pm CST
The Supreme Court has criticized the Indian government's resistance to allowing death row convicts the option of lethal injection as an execution method, calling hanging "cruel" and "barbaric." A public interest litigation argues that alternatives would provide more humane and dignified deaths, with judges noting the government's reluctance to evolve with changing times. The case has been adjourned until November 11.
US Executions in 2025 Could Reach Highest Number Since 2012, Driven by Florida and Other Republican-Led States
Oct 10, 2025 09:25 pm CST
US executions in 2025 have reached 35 with seven more scheduled, potentially becoming the highest annual total since 2012. Four Republican-led states—Florida, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina—account for 76% of these executions, with Florida showing the most dramatic increase under Governor DeSantis. This trend coincides with President Trump's calls for expanded use of capital punishment, though remains well below the 1999 peak of 98 executions.
Jharkhand Man Given Death Penalty for Killing 5 Family Members Over Land Dispute
Sep 25, 2025 11:35 pm CST
A court in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district has sentenced Chunnu Manjhi to death for murdering five family members, including three children, following a property dispute. The court deemed the 2019 killings as "brutal and rarest of rare," basing the conviction on forensic evidence and witness testimonies.
Texas Man Awaits Execution for Brutal Murder of 13-Month-Old in Alleged Exorcism Case
Sep 25, 2025 05:07 pm CST
Blaine Milam faces execution in Texas for the 2008 murder of 13-month-old Amora Carson during what was claimed to be an "exorcism." Despite legal appeals challenging bite mark evidence and claiming intellectual disability, courts have upheld his death sentence. The brutal case involved hammer blows, bite marks, and other injuries so severe that forensic experts couldn't determine a single cause of death.