International Death Penalty News, Issue 26: Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, United States of America

Iran

The Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of 32-year-old rapper Toomaj Salehi. In October 2022, Toomaj was arrested after making supporting statements of the ongoing, nationwide protests. In July 2023, he avoided a death sentence due to the Supreme Court and instead received a prison sentence. Then in January 2024, new charges against him were filed and he was sentenced to death in April for “corruption on earth.” Now, the Supreme Court has overturned his death sentence and ordered a retrial.

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, Nategh Hosseini was executed in Qazvin Central Prison. He was arrested about three years ago and convicted of murder. He was then sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Hosseini’s seven-year-old son was present at the execution. It was hoped that the boy’s presence would result in clemency for Hosseini. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

Malaysia

The appeals of 19 death row inmates have been rejected by the Federal Court. All 19 were seeking to have their death sentence commuted to a lesser sentence. Last year, a new law was passed that banned mandatory death sentences for certain crimes. The law took effect retroactively and nearly all death row inmates began applying for commutations. Some have been granted, however, the court has yet to review most of the appeals. The Federal Court can reduce a death sentence to between 30-40 years in prison and six-12 strokes of the rotan. However, the court can also uphold a death sentence for crimes such as murder, terrorist acts, and hostage-taking. The 19 death row inmates who have had their death sentences upheld were all convicted of murders that involved multiple victims, or children.

Thailand

The death sentence for 59-year-old former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn was upheld by the Supreme Court. Banyin was convicted of conspiring to kill 50-year-old construction tycoon Chuwong Sae Tang on June 26, 2015. This ruling upheld the rulings by lower courts. Banyin is also serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of the brother of the judge who oversaw his case. Banyin insisted that the death of Chuwong was an accident, however, evidence indicated that he had been murdered. It is believed he was murdered so that Banyin could obtain a large amount of shares in the construction company.

United States of America

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Ramiro Gonzales was executed in Texas. Ramiro was 41 years of age. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of 19-year-old Bridget Townsend on January 15, 2001, in Bandera, Texas. 

On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Richard Rojem, Jr., was executed by the state of Oklahoma. Richard was 66 years of age. He was executed for murdering his seven-year-old stepdaughter Layla Dawn Cummings on either July 6 or 7, 1984, in Washita County, Oklahoma.

In 2022, the state of Alabama attempted to execute Alan Miller by lethal injection. His execution was halted when technicians were unable to establish the necessary IV lines. In the lead-up to his 2022 execution, Miller argued before the courts that he should not be executed by lethal injection and instead should be able to be executed by nitrogen gas. Recently, Miller received a new execution date, September 26, 2024, after Alabama agreed to never again attempt to execute him using lethal injection. Instead, Miller will be executed by nitrogen gas. However, Miller is now arguing that execution by nitrogen gas is cruel and unusual punishment. When Miller first requested to be executed by nitrogen gas, it had never before been done. In January 2024, Alabama carried out the first nitrogen gas execution with Kenneth Smith. Alabama claims the execution was a success and went according to plan. Miller is arguing that the execution was a “horrific scene” that violates the 8th Amendment. Miller is seeking to halt his September 26, 2024, execution date.

Officials in Washington City, Utah, have announced they will not be seeking the death penalty for Mia (Collin) Bailey. Bailey is transitioning from male to female and was granted a legal name and gender change last August. Bailey was arrested for murdering Joseph and Gail Bailey, her parents. In addition to murder, Bailey also attempted to murder a sibling and their spouse. Bailey has expressed no remorse for her actions, stating, “I would do it again.” Prosecutors explained that upon a complete review of the case, they decided not to pursue capital punishment.

A jury in Florida recommended by a vote of 9-3, that a judge sentence 27-year-old Zephen Xaver to death. Xaver is convicted of murdering five women in a bank on January 23, 2019. The five women were identified as 65-year-old Cynthia Watson, 55-year-old Marisol Lopez, 38-year-old Ana Pinon-Williams, 54-year-old Debra Cook, and 31-year-old Jessica Montague. Xaver was a former prison guard trainee. Although the jury recommended a death sentence, the judge in the case could choose to override the jury and instead give Xaver a lesson sentence, such as life in prison without the possibility of parole. A sentencing date will be set sometime next month.

A bill has passed both the state House of Representatives and Senate in Delaware that would remove capital punishment from state law. That bill has now been sent to Governor John Carney to sign. The bill removes the death penalty as the maximum punishment and replaces it with life in prison without the possibility of probation, parole, or a reduced sentence. The Delaware Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 2016, however, it required the state legislature to remove it from state law.

On Thursday, June 27, 2024, a jury in Florida voted 8-4 to recommend the death sentence for Ysrael Granda. Granda is convicted of masterminding the murder of 42-year-old Jose Soto in Miami Lakes, Florida in 2012. Granda was in prison at the time of the murder, however, he ordered others to kill Jose for him. Jose was engaged in a relationship with Granda’s girlfriend. This is not the first time Granda was convicted of having others commit crimes for him. A sentencing hearing, in which the judge will officially announce Granda’s sentence, is scheduled for later this year.