International Death Penalty News 2024 Issue 29: Kuwait, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United States of America

Kuwait

The Court of Appeal has affirmed the death sentence of an unnamed Bedouin man. The man is convicted of murdering his father using a rifle after a breakfast domestic dispute escalated between him and his parents. Kuwait had halted executions from 2017-2022, however, resumed executions in July 2023, by hanging five people.

Malaysia

Fifty-six-year-old Quah Tee Keon is asking the Federal Court in Johor Baru to uphold his death sentence. The Singaporean national was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Ruan Chao Qiang in 2013. Ruan was the boyfriend of Keon’s wife, who Keon also severely injured and attempted to murder. Keon eventually surrendered to the police. He is now seeking to withdraw his application to review his death sentence and is instead asking the court to uphold his sentence.

Four men have had their death sentence commuted after the charges against them were reduced. Thirty-nine-year-old P. Shamugasundram, 41-year-old S. Vickneswaran, 35-year-old K. Vignesvaran, and 40-year-old S. Sathan were arrested in 2016 and originally charged with trafficking 2.264kg of methamphetamine. The charges have been reduced to drug possession. All have pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 20 years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane. They were initially sentenced to death in 2019, however, they received a reduction in their sentences after expressing remorse.

Saudi Arabia

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, Pakistani national Kitab Gul was executed in the kingdom. He was arrested on charges of drug trafficking and convicted of heroin smuggling. He appealed his sentence multiple times, with all appeals being denied. Traditionally, executions are carried out by beheading.

Singapore

An unnamed 25-year-old Hong Kong national was arrested with a significant amount of crystal meth. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death. The Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau alerted the corresponding agency in Singapore about the suspected drug trafficking, which led to the arrest. Over the last four weeks, Hong Kong has worked with overseas agencies to crack down on drug trafficking syndicates.

United States of America

On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Ruben Gutierrez was scheduled to be executed in Texas. His execution was temporarily halted by the Supreme Court of the United States, to allow time for the court to consider if they will hear his case. Ruben is arguing that additional DNA testing will prove he did not commit the murder for which he is convicted. Ruben is convicted of murdering 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison on September 5, 1998, in her Brownsville, Texas mobile home.

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, Keith Gavin was executed in Alabama. Keith was executed for the murder of William Clinton Clayton, Jr., on March 6, 1998, in Cherokee County, Alabama. William, a delivery driver, had stopped at a bank to get money to take his wife out to dinner when he was killed.

The Florida Supreme Court has refused an appeal from death row inmate Allen Ward Cox. Cox was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Thomas Baker, a fellow inmate at Lake Correctional Institute, which occurred on December 21, 1998. He was appealing his sentence on multiple issues, including the constitutionality of the death penalty and various alleged trial errors. All his arguments were rejected and he remains sentenced to death.

Two death row inmates in California will be resentenced, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Dozens of death penalty cases are under review for improperly and intentionally excluding Black and Jewish jurors. Ernest Dykes, whose appeal led to the review of 56 cases, will be the first inmate resentenced. He is convicted of murdering nine-year-old Lance Clark during a robbery in Oakland, California in 1993. Upon review of his case, handwritten notes were discovered that indicated potential Black and Jewish jurors were being intentionally excluded, which is against the law. His new sentence could see him released on probation as soon as next year. The second inmate to be resentenced is Keith Thomas. Thomas was sentenced to death in 1997 for kidnapping, raping, and murdering 25-year-old Francia Young. The investigation revealed that “racist imagery and stereotyping” was used during his trial. Thomas will be resentenced to 23 years to life, making him immediately eligible for parole.

A unanimous jury in Florida has recommended that 59-year-old James Guzman be sentenced to death. Guzman is convicted of robbing and murdering David Colvin in Dayton Beach, Florida in 1991. It is not the first time Guzman has been sentenced to death. He was sentenced to death twice prior, however, changes to the state’s death penalty sentencing procedures resulted in new trials. At the time of the murder, Guzman had only been out of prison for less than four months. Allegedly, Guzman stole and murdered David to be able to buy more crack cocaine.

Prosecutors in Louisiana have announced they are seeking the death penalty for Daniel Callihan, who is accused of murdering Callie Brunett and her daughter, Erin. Callihan is also accused of kidnapping Callie, Erin, and Callie’s other child, Jalie. He then transported them across state lines. Mississippi is also seeking capital charges against Callihan in relation to the crimes. Federal charges are also pending, which could also result in a sentence of death.

A judge has officially sentenced Patrick McDowell to death in Florida. McDowell confessed and was convicted of murdering Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Moyers on March 10, 2003. He was arrested after a five-day manhunt. McDowell’s attorney alleges that he has PTSD from his time serving in the Marines. A jury voted 11-1 to sentence McDowell to death. His attorney plans to appeal.

Prosecutors in Texas have announced they will be seeking the death penalty against 26-year-old Dremone Francis. Previously, prosecutors had announced they would be seeking the death penalty against 44-year-old Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer, Jr. Both men are accused in the murder of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, who was shot and killed at a Little Caesars in northeast Harris County on July 10, 2024. Before the shooting, Palmer assaulted an employee at the restaurant. In addition to the murder charge, Francis is accused of tampering with evidence. After the murder, in which Deputy Esqueda was shot multiple times, both men fled the scene.