International Death Penalty News 2025, Issue 09: China, India, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore, United States of America

China

On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Tianjin High People’s Court upheld the death sentence for Bai Tianhui, the former general manager of China Huarong International Holdings.  Bai, who was convicted and sentenced to death in a bribery case involving over $151 million, was seeking to have his death sentence overturned.  His case will now go to the Supreme People’s Court, the top court in China, for review.  Bai was sentenced to death in May, altering being found guilty of using his position to secure benefits for multiple entities in project acquisitions and corporate financing, in exchange for bribes.  After his arrest, his personal assets were confiscated, he was deprived of political rights for life, and all illicit gains – and their interest – were turned over to the national treasury.  The Chinese government has been cracking down on corruption and bribery in recent months.

India

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 34-year-old Rajib Ghosh was sentenced to death by a court.  Ghosh was convicted of raping a seven-month-old infant on November 30, 2024.  While the female child survived the assault, she remains in critical condition at a hospital, and her survival is not yet guaranteed.  The court found that the case qualified as one of the “rarest of the rare,” a requirement for death penalty cases in India.  

Iran

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, 46-year-old Abbas Bameri, a Baluch ethnic minority, was executed in Birjand Central Prison.  Abbas had three children and worked as a farmer before his arrest.  He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related and weapons charges after being arrested about five years ago.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Yousef Kavarouyi was executed in Kerman Central Prison.  His execution was carried out by hanging.  Yousef was arrested about four years ago and convicted of murder.  He was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the inmate cannot pay, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 42-year-old Malek Parsa was executed in Amol Prison.  He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the inmate cannot pay, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 40-year-old Rasoul Ashour was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.  He was executed by hanging.  Rasoul was arrested six years ago, convicted of murder, and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the inmate cannot pay, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, 24-year-old Milad Naseri was executed by hanging in Gonbad Kavous Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago and convicted of murder.  After his conviction, he was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely being considered.  After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the inmate cannot pay, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, 29-year-old Shahin Mahdavikia was executed in Mahabad Prison.  He was convicted on rape charges.  The victim committed suicide about six months after the rape occurred.  State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution.

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, 37-year-old Ahmad Hanafi, 30-year-old Mojtaba Khoramdel, 30-year-old Baluch ethnic minority Vahid Mohebi, 40-year-old Shahin Goudarzi, and 51-year-old Asghar Dehghani were educated in Isfahan Central Prison.  Executions are traditionally carried out by having.  Ahmad, Mojtaba, and Vahid were all convicted and sentenced to death on separate drug-related charges.  Shahin and Asghar were each convicted in separate murder cases, and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  State officials and the media have not yet reported any of the executions.

Malaysia

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the government announced it commuted the death sentences of 68 Indonesian citizens to life in prison.  Two other Indonesian inmates remain on death row.  The reduction in sentences were based upon appeals filed with the Federal Court of Malaysia.  Legal reforms were recently implemented in Malaysia, including the removal of mandatory death sentences.  The changes in the laws prompted the appeals.  Officials also announced there is a plan between Indonesia and Malaysia to return imprisoned individuals to their home nations.

Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is asking that those convicted of trading counterfeit medicines and illegal pharmaceutical drugs be eligible for the death penalty and life in prison.  The request came as the agency is looking to severely crack down on fake medications being distributed.  In one recent seizure, drugs that were expired, banned, counterfeit, and improperly stored were discovered.  An amendment would need to be passed to permit such sentences for those arrested and convicted.  The agency is hopeful that such an amendment will be fast-tracked to help ensure lasting changes.

Singapore

Two Singapore nationals were arrested on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, along with over $100,000 worth of drugs.  The men were discovered standing next to a car with drugs in it.  A search of one man’s apartment revealed more drugs.  An investigation is still ongoing.  If convicted, the two men could be sentenced to death.  

In 2017, Hamzah Ibrahim was sentenced to death after being convicted of possessing heroin with intent to sell.  He was scheduled to be executed by hanging on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, however, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced he was granted an order of respite by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam two days before the execution.  The order of respite is not a pardon and Hamzah is eligible to be given another execution date.  The exact reason for the order of respite is not stated however, it could be related to another, similar case that is currently being appealed.

United States of America

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Christopher Sepulvado died while awaiting his March 17, 2025, execution date in Louisiana.  He was 81 years of age.  At the time of his death, he was in the prison infirmary.  According to his attorney, Christopher was terminally ill when his execution date was scheduled and a week before his death, had a gangrenous leg amputated at a nearby hospital.  His death was attributed to natural causes and complications from pre-existing medical conditions.  Christoper was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his six-year-old stepson Wesley Allen Mercer on March 8, 1992, in Mansfield, Louisiana. 

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States threw out the death sentence and conviction for Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip and ordered a new trial.  The vote was 5-3.  Glossip was convicted in 2004 of hiring someone to murder 54-year-old Barry Alan Van Treese in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 7, 1997. Barry, owner of the Best Budget Inn in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was Glossip’s boss at the time of the murder.  The conviction was thrown out due to the prosecution suppressing evidence, such as hiding the fact that the man who actually committed the murder, Justin Sneed was granted leniency in exchange for his testimony against Glossip. Several parts of that testimony are also regarded as false and/or misleading.  Since testifying, Sneed has sought to recant his testimony.

The US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the ruling of US District Judge Shelly Dick, which reopened a legal challenge to the execution protocol in Louisiana.  The legal challenge was first filed in 2012 when the state only permitted executions by lethal injection.  The case was dismissed by Judge Dick in 2022, as the state was unable to acquire lethal injection drugs and was not carrying out any executions, however, if the circumstances were ever changed, the case could be reopened.  Last year, the legislature approved the use of electrocution and nitrogen gas as methods of execution and the plaintiffs sought to reopen the case.  Dick agreed, however, upon appeal, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay to her ruling.

Forty-seven-year-old Kristopher Henriqson could be sentenced to death in Florida if he is convicted of repeatedly raping a young girl.  Henriqson was arrested earlier this year after the girl reported that she was sexually abused at least twice a week for the last three years by Henriqson.  During her assault, her mother was frequently at work.  If convicted, prosecutors could seek the death penalty.  Otherwise, Henriqson will face life in prison.

In 1965, capital punishment was abolished in Iowa.  In recent years, there have been numerous attempts to bring back capital punishment, primarily by Republican lawmakers.  This year, a bill has been introduced that would permit the death penalty for those convicted of law enforcement officers.  The legislation specifies that the accused must “intentionally kill a peace officer, who is on duty, under any circumstances, with the knowledge that the person killed is a peace officer” in order to be sentenced to death.  Executions would be carried out by lethal injection.  The proposed bill has been advanced by a Senate subcommittee.

In mid-November 2022, four University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were murdered in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho.  The now 30-year-old Bryan Kohberger was arrested about a month after the murders.   Kohberger was a criminology postgraduate student at nearby Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.  He has pled not guilty to the murder charges and his trial is scheduled to begin in August.  If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.  However, his lawyers are working to have the death penalty removed as a possible sentence. In their most recent attempt, they are arguing that Kohberger is on the autism spectrum and should disqualify him from facing the death penalty.  At this time, it is unclear if Kohberger has previously been diagnosed with autism.  Autism is defined as a neurological and developmental disorder that can impact an individual’s ability to interact socially, however, research shows that they are not more likely to commit crimes.

Prosecutors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania announced they will not be seeking the death penalty against 42-year-old Kelvin Roberts Jr., and 41-year-old Charles Edward Fulforth.  They have both pled not guilty to the charges against them.  They are accused of breaking into a home on December 8, 2024, and shooting the homeowner and his son.  The homeowner survived his injuries, however, his son died.  If convicted, both men could be sentenced to life in prison.  A third man, 26-year-old Jeremy Fuentes, has also been arrested and charged in connection with the crime.

Based upon the recommendation of a jury in Ohio, 25-year-old Robbi Robinson has been sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.   Robinson is convicted of murdering Brenda Scott, his father’s fiancee on May 11, 2023.  He knocked out her teeth by punching her in the face and set her on fire after pouring accelerant on her.  After being set on fire, Brenda jumped out a window.  She died a month after the attack.  The jury could have recommended Robinson be sentenced to death but ultimately decided against it.

Prosecutors in Mississippi have announced they will not seek the death penalty against Timothy Herrington.  Herrington is accused of murdering 20-year-old University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee in July 2022.  The two men were believed to be in a sexual relationship at the time of Jimmie’s disappearance, however, Herrington was hiding his sexuality at the time.  Text message revealed that the two met up shortly before Jimmie went missing.  This will be Herrington’s second trial.  His first trial ended with a jury deadlocked at 11-1.  One member of the jury refused to convict Herrington because Jimmie’s body had not yet been found.  A group of hunters found the body on February 1, 2025, resulting in prosecutors seeking a second trial. Herrington faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

In 2023, evidence finally emerged that solved a cold case in California. Seventy-three-year-old Antoine Nehme was arrested and charged with the murder of 71-year-old Dennis Leroy Wood in Moorpark, California. Dennis was murdered in his home in April 2004.  Nehme was a person of interest in the case, however, authorities were unable to link him to the crime until recently, leading to his arrest and charges being filed against him.  With jury selection ongoing, prosecutors have announced that they will not be seeking the death penalty even though the crime qualifies.

The House Judiciary Committee in Arkansas has allowed a bill to move forward that would permit execution by nitrogen gas in the state.  It now moves before the full House for consideration.  If it passes, it would then go before the Arkansas Senate.  There are currently 25 inmates on death row in the state, with the last execution being carried out in 2017.  Since then, the state has had difficulties obtaining execution drugs, which is one of the reasons for the new law cited by the sponsor of the bill.