International Death Penalty News 2023, Issue 08: Iran, Japan, United States of America, Vietnam

Iran

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, Ebrahim Hojatgholi was executed in Zanjan Central Prison. He was 37 years of age and had a young child. Ebrahim was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, Sirous Gholami was executed at Gorgan Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. The murder was allegedly over a finical dispute. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Monday, February 13, 2023, Behzad Alirezaei and Ahmad Samari were executed in Qazvin Prison. Both men were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Bahzad was convicted of murdering another person during a group fight. He claimed that one of the five other individuals in the fight committed the murder. Iranian law does not differentiate between degrees of murder, such as self-defense and intentional murder. All are charged under the term “intentional murder.” State officials and the media have not yet reported either execution.

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, three men were executed at Arak Central Prison. Only one prisoner, Mostafa Majnouni, was identified by name. All three were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not reported the executions.

On Tuesday, February 14, 3034, three men were executed in Karaj Penitentiary. Two of the men were identified as Mojtaba Zarpasand and Mehdi Doustdari, while the identity of the third has not been established. All three were convicted of drug-related crimes. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Parviz Foroutani was executed by hanging in Neishabur Prison. Parviz was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Parviz claimed that the murder was actually an honor killing. Before his arrest, Parviz worked as a barber. His execution has not been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, February 16, 2023, 42-year-old Nojoumi Moradi was executed in Urmia Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

Japan

In June 2021, Yoshitaka Morito was sentenced to death for killing two people by ramming into them with his truck. Now, the 53-year-old Morito has had his sentence reduced to life in prison by the Sendai High Court. Allegedly, Morito, who had recently been released from prison, wanted to commit a crime in order to return to prison. Therefore he stole and truck, and struck two people with the vehicle, killing them. The judge called the crime “haphazard and immature,” but ultimately not deserving of a death sentence.

United States of America

On Thursday, February 23, 2023, Donald Dillbeck was executed in Florida. Donald was convicted of murdering Faye Vann in Tallahassee, Florida on June 24, 1990, after he escaped from prison. It was the first execution in Florida since 2019.

On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Payton Gendron was sentenced to life in prison in New York. He was convicted of murdering 10 people when he opened fire at a Tops grocery store, which is located in a predominantly black neighborhood. The white 19-year-old Gendron is also facing federal hate crime charges, for which he could be sentenced to death. Attorneys for Gendron claim he would be willing to plead guilty to federal charges to avoid being sentenced to death.

On Sunday, February 19, 2023, former death row inmate Michael Martin McDonnell died in Oregon. He was 71 years of age and was receiving hospice care at the time of his death. Michael was sentenced to death in 1988 for murdering 22-year-old Joey Keever by stabbing her 42 times. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison in December 2022, by the outgoing governor, Kate Brown.

At his second sentencing trial in Florida, Michael R. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison, as his jury was unable to unanimously agree to sentence him to death. Jackson is convicted of raping and murdering 25-year-old Andrea Boyer. Jackson was first convicted and sentenced to death in 2010. His sentence was thrown out after it was determined that police officers made prejudicial comments on the witness stand. During his second sentencing hearing, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous recommendation for the death penalty, meaning he was instead sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

Vietnam

Twenty-eight-year-old Yer Vang, a Laotian national, has been sentenced to death for transporting drugs. Vang was arrested in 2022 after his car was stopped at a border crossing. Police discovered drugs hidden in the car. Vang claims he was paid to deliver the drugs into Vietnam.

For more information regarding how your financial support can help, please click here.