International Death Penalty News 2025,  Issue 03: India, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Uganda, United States of America

India

On October 21, 2021, a court sentenced nine people – Dengun Sabar, Dasunta Sabar, Aajanta Sabar, Padhantu Sabar, Dalasa Sabar, Malku Sabar, Bubuna Sabar, Lakiya Sabar and Iru Sabar – to death for a 2016 triple murder in Rayagada.  They were convicted under the Witch-Hunting Act 2013.  The nine individuals had branded Asina Sabar, his wife Amabaya Sabar, and eldest daughter Ashamani Sabar as witches and blamed them for the deaths of children in the village.  After accusing the three of practicing sorcery, they attacked them, injected them with pesticides, and buried the three alive.  After some time, they exhumed the bodies and set them on fire.  Now, upon review of the case, the death sentences have been commuted to life in prison.  In releasing their decision, the judges noted the good behavior of the inmates since they have been in prison and blamed lack of education for the persisting belief of witches.

A district court in Fatehabad has sentenced Ashok Kumar to death. Kumar is convicted of stabbing to death his physically challenged brother, Deepak on Jun e18, 2020.  After the murder, Kumar cut up the body. Deepak was confined to a wheelchair.  Kumar wanted his brother out of the way so that he could gain control of the family house.  Following the murder, Kumar attempted to cover up the crime and dispose of incriminating evidence.

Iran

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, six men were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison.  Two of the men, identified as Salman Bozorgmehr and Reza Azizian were executed on drug-related charges.  A third man was also sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  He has only been identified as an Afghan national.  The other three were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  One was identified as Ashkan Piryan, while the other two were only identified as Afghan nationals.  None of the executions have yet been announced by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, 41-year-old Samad Najar-Asl was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.  Samad was the father of two children and was arrested about seven years ago after killing a man during a financial dispute.  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 and demanding qisas or diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the money is not paid, the defendant is often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, Houshang Shahi was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.  The father of two worked as a welder before his arrest.  He threw a piece of iron at someone who owed him money, resulting in the other person dying.  Houshang was convicted 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 and demanding qisas or diya (blood money).  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the money is not paid, the defendant is often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, 44-year-old Jafar Fallah was executed in Semnan Central Prison.  He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges after his arrest about three years ago.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, 37-year-old Pouya Asgari was executed in Arak Central Prison.  Pouya was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

Kuwait

A criminal court has sentenced an unnamed Indian national to death for the murder of another Indian national.  The murder occurred in Farwaniya.  The condemned man had previously made sexual advances towards the victim, which were unwelcome.  The man then lured the victim into a house where he sexually assaulted and stabbed the victim to death.  

Pakistan

On Friday, January 10, 2025, Ali Mohammad Rind and his son Munir alias Farooq Rind were sentenced to death for murdering 50-year-old Meer Rind and his 18-year-old daughter Ms Nimani in what they claimed was an honor killing.  The murder occurred near Sehwan in 2023.  The father and son claimed the father and daughter had dishonored the family, with specifying how.  In the ruling, the judge noted that the crime was premeditated and deserving of the harshest punishment.

Saudi Arabia

Sahil Bahadur was convicted and sentenced to death on November 15, 2021, for murdering his boss, Abdul Ayaz, on October 8, 2019.  His family has been fighting to get him off death row.  Sahil confessed to killing Abdul, even calling the police after the incident occurred.  The two were arguing about inappropriate pictures Abdul allegedly posted to Sahil’s Facebook account and the fight turned physical.  Others also confirmed that Sahil committed the murder.  Sahil is originally from Nepal where his family still resides.  His family made an offer of blood money to the victim’s wife, however, the offer was rejected.

South Korea

On December 3, 2024, then-president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and ordered soldiers to storm parliament.  He was soon impeached for his actions and has now been arrested on charges of insurrection.  It is the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting president has been arrested.  If convicted, Yoon could be sentenced to death or life in prison.  Yoon has said he will cooperate with the “illegal investigation to prevent unsavory bloodshed.”  He can be held for 48 hours before authorities need approval to extend his detention.  His lawyers are disputing the validity of the warrant.

Taiwan

On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the death sentence for Liang Yu-chih was upheld by the Taiwan High Court Kaohsiung Branch.  Liang was convicted of abducting a 24-year-old female college student in Tainan on October 28, 2020.  He then raped her, beat her, and strangled her to death before robbing her and dumping her body.  He has also been found guilty of attempting to rape another woman about one month earlier.  The court upheld his death sentence due to Liang’s intent to kill and extreme cruelty during the attack.

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, 32-year-old Huang Lin-kai was executed by firing squad.  It is the first execution to occur under President Lai Ching-te, who took office in May 2024.  Huang was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her mother on October 1, 2013, after his ex-girlfriend confronted him about stealing nearly all the money in her bank account.  Huang also sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend.  She and her mother were strangled to death.

Uganda

A military court has ruled that prominent opposition figure 68-year-old Kizza Besigye can be charged with treachery.  If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.  Kizza went missing in Kenya in November.  A few days later, he appeared before a military court in Uganda.  His arrest has led to human rights groups criticizing Uganda’s leadership over using military courts to target opponents.  Kizza was likely to run for president in 2026.  His likely opponent will be current President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.  Human rights groups are calling for Kizza’s release.

United States of America

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Oklahoma death row inmate Byron James Shepard died in a hospital.  He was 43 years of age.  No foul play is suspected, however, an investigation is ongoing into his death until a case is determined.  Shepard was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of 22-year-old Tecumseh Police Officer Justin Terney on March 27, 2017.  Officer Terney had pulled over the car in which Shepard was a passenger.  At the time, Shepard was a fugitive.  He gave Officer Terney a fake name and then shot him before fleeing into the woods.  Officer Terney died from his injuries.  

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, an appeals court in Washington DC temporarily halted the deal that would spare three men involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks from being sentenced to death.  The temporary stay was granted to allow time for the court to consider the arguments of the case.  In 2024, a deal was reached in which the alleged mastermind of the attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and two other conspirators would plead guilty in exchange for forgoing a trial and possibly being sentenced to death.  National outrage ensued after the public cleared about the deal and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attempted to withdraw the deal. A military court then ruled that Austin could not nullify the deal.  Now, however, an appeal has been made to arguing that the harm to the government and the public would be irreparable if the deal is allowed to proceed and deny a public trial.

After refusing to release its new execution manual, the Tennessee Department of Corrections has issued a redacted copy to the press.  Initially, the state argued that they could not release the manual to protect the identities of those involved.  The new manual is half the length of the previous one and removes several pages noting how the execution drugs are to be procured and tested.  Additionally, it grants the Corrections Department commissioner the authority to deviate from the protocol if deemed necessary.  Additionally, the state is switching to a single-drug execution protocol instead of the previous three-drug protocol. 

Three bills are being introduced to the US House of Representatives which would permit pedophiles and child sexual predators to be sentenced to death.  Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who sponsored the bills, likens sexual abusing and raping a child as “murdering their soul.”  One bill would require those convicted of rape or sexual assault against an adult to receive a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.  The other two bills cover a wide range of crimes against children that could result in sentences of death or a mandatory life sentence.  Luna claims she has spoken to President-elect Donald Trump and that he supports the bills.  This is not the first time she has attempted to introduce such bills.  Similar bills were recently passed in her home state of Florida.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jairo Saenz and his brother Alexi Saenz have both pled guilty to the charges against them in exchange for a deal that prevents them from sign sentenced to death.  The brothers were leaders of the Suffolk County, New York branch of the notorious MS-13 gang.  Jairo confessed to committing seven murders, attempting multiple other murders, arson, and other charges, and is expected to receive a sentence of 40 to 60 years in prison.  Alexi pleaded guilty to similar charges and is expected to receive a sentence of 70 years in prison.  The brothers were involved in the murder of 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas and 15-year-old Nisa Mickens, high schoolers who had criticized the gang on Facebook.  They were violently murdered with a machete and baseball bat and then their bodies were left to be discovered.  Some victim’s family members criticize the plea deal the brothers were offered, especially due to the brutal and violent nature of the crimes committed.  While the death penalty was initially sought for the brothers, the Biden Administration eventually decided to refuse to seek the death penalty in this case.

In 2024, it was revealed that a Connecticut-based company, Absolute Standards, provided the lethal injection drugs for 13 federal executions carried out in the final months of President Donald Trump’s first term.  Now, three Connecticut lawmakers have introduced a bill making it allege to manufacture and sell drugs or medical devices to any state intending to use them to carry out an execution.  Capital punishment was abolished for future cases in Connecticut in 2012, and in 2015, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled capital punishment unconstitutional, ending the death penalty in the state.

A bill is being considered in Montana which would abolish capital punishment in the state.  It is not the first time such a bill has been brought before the Legislature.  There are currently two death row inmates in the state.  If it passes, the bill would go into effect immediately.

District Court Judge Natalia Cornelio has been dismissed from a high-profile death row case by a Texas judge after it was found that Judge Cornelio was biased.  She was overseeing the case of Ronald Lee Haskell.  Haskell was convicted and sentenced to death in 2019, after being convicted of Stephen and Katie Stay and four of their young children ranging in ages from four to 13.  An investigation determined that Katie was the sister of Haskell’s ex-wife, whom he stalked.  One child, 15-year-old Cassidy, survived the attack.  Judge Cornelio quietly ordered Haskell to be transferred to the hospital for an MRI to challenge his conviction and death sentence.  

A district judge in Cedar County, Nebraska has refused a request by lawyers for 44-year-old Jason Jones to rule the death penalty unconstitutional.  Jones is convicted of murdering 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford, their daughter 55-year-old Dana Twiford, and 53-year-old Michele Ebeling on August 4, 2022.  He has not yet been sentenced, however, he is eligible to be sentenced to death.  A three-judge panel will decide if he is sentenced to death or life in prison.

Federal prosecutors are deciding if they will seek a death sentence against 75-year-old Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.  Zambada is the co-founder of Sinaloa Cartel, which has smuggled fentanyl into the United States, leading to a crisis of overdoses in recent years.  He has been charged with fentanyl trafficking.  Prosecutors are offering him a deal that would spare him from the death penalty if he cooperates.  

The Department of Justice announced it has withdrawn the federal lethal injection protocol on the grounds that it causes unconstitutional suffering.  Currently, Attorney General Merrick Garland, who will be replaced by the incoming Trump Administration, began a review of the federal executions in July 2021.  It was completed in early January 2025.  The review looked at autopsies of the inmates executed using a one-drug lethal injection and found that they were not properly anesthetized and felt extreme pain during the execution.  This finding prompted the Department of Justice to remove its execution protocol.  Following President Biden’s commutation of 37 federal death row inmates, only three individuals remain on federal death row.  However, incoming President Trump is looking to expand the number of crimes that are eligible for capital punishment and will likely seek the death penalty in some cases where the Biden Administration did not.

Forty-year-old David Stewart has been arrested and accused of murdering 48-year-old Jerry McLay on November 14, 2024, in Rich Hill, Missouri.  Initially, police believed it was a suicide but a further investigation revealed that it was likely murder.  If convicted, Stewart could be sentenced to death.  The investigation into Jerry’s death is ongoing.

Forty-two-year-old Alex Madrid has been sentenced to death in Arizona.  Madrid is convicted of murdering Claudia Lucero, a freshman at Westwood High School on December 5, 2013.  Claudia’s family reported her missing after she did not come home from school that day.  The next day, her body was found in a dumpster.  She had been sexually assaulted and murdered by strangulation.  Madrid, who once lived with Lucero’s family, was identified as a suspect through DNA evidence.

Sixty-eight-year-old Googie Rene Harris, Sr., has been convicted and sentenced to death in California.  Harris was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his 33-year-old estranged wife Terry Cheek in 1998.  During the initial investigation into the crime, Harris blamed another man, Horace Roberts for the crime.  Roberts was wrongfully convicted and served years in prison before being freed.  Harris’ nephew, 59-year-old Joaquin Lealwas also involved in the murder.  He was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.  Harris’s son, 46-year-old Googie Rene Harrris, Jr., pled guilty in 2020 to being an accessory to murder and received a sentence of two years of felony probation.

Twenty-year-old Terryon Thomas a/k/a Mr. Prada, could be sentenced to death in Louisiana.  Thomas is accused of murdering 69-year-old therapist Nicholas Abraham and fleeing the state.  Thomas has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder by a grand jury in Louisiana.  He is also accused of obstruction of justice, property damage, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.  Thomas was arrested in Dallas, Texas, in possession of Nicholas’ car.  If convicted at a trial, he could be sentenced to death for his crimes.