Arizona is resuming executions after a two-year pause, with Attorney General Kris Mayes seeking a death warrant for Aaron Brian Gunches in the coming weeks. This follows a review and improvement of the state’s lethal injection procedures to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional standards. The state plans to execute Gunches for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, and approximately 25 more death row inmates are awaiting execution. Mayes stated confidence in the legality of the renewed practice and emphasized her commitment to justice for victims’ families.
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Jose Ibarra was found guilty on all ten counts related to the murder of Laken Riley and a separate incident. The charges included malice murder, three counts of felony murder stemming from kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and aggravated battery. Further convictions involved obstructing an emergency call, tampering with evidence (including Riley’s phone and Ibarra’s bloody clothing), and a separate peeping Tom charge. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including witness testimonies, forensic analysis, and security footage, to support each charge.
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As of this report, Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, a drastic increase from the 34 executed annually in 2022 and 2023. This surge, deemed unprecedented by the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), surpasses previous records and includes individuals from numerous countries, primarily convicted of drug-related offenses. The increase follows the kingdom’s 2022 lifting of a moratorium on executions for drug crimes. This sharp rise in executions contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 statement about limiting capital punishment.
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A federal judge has granted a stay of execution to Thomas Creech, an Idaho inmate scheduled to be put to death next week. This comes after Creech survived a botched execution attempt in February, where authorities were unable to establish an IV line despite multiple attempts. Creech’s attorneys argued that another execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment and violate double jeopardy principles. The judge’s decision grants a reprieve while the court further considers Creech’s appeal, with a supplemental brief due by Friday. This stay effectively suspends preparations for a second execution, as the current death warrant is set to expire on Wednesday.
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South Carolina executed Richard Moore, a black man convicted of murder, after the Supreme Court denied his appeal claiming prosecutors unjustly excluded black people from his trial’s jury. Moore, 59, killed James Mahoney, a convenience store clerk, in a 1999 robbery. His attorneys argued that he had killed Mahoney in self-defence. This was the second execution in South Carolina since the state resumed capital punishment after a 13-year pause due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs. Moore had requested clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, which was denied.
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The news of the Texas inmate being called to testify before a state committee just hours before his scheduled execution is a stark reminder of the flaws in our justice system. The uncertainty of his fate, the possibility of him being innocent, and the last-minute nature of the decision highlight the deep-seated issues within the system. It’s perplexing to see a state so adamant about government intervention in the form of capital punishment, despite claims of valuing small government.
The notion of executing a potentially innocent person flies in the face of justice and basic human rights. The rush to carry out a death sentence, even in the face of new evidence or doubts about guilt, is deeply troubling.… Continue reading
As I read about the case of the Texas death row inmate facing execution for a crime his advocates say did not happen, I am left feeling a mix of anger, frustration, and profound sadness. The details surrounding the case are alarming and raise serious concerns about the flaws in our justice system, particularly when it comes to capital punishment.
The fact that the inmate in question had a child who tragically passed away from double pneumonia and sepsis, with medical experts now pointing out the inappropriate medications she was administered, paints a picture of a devastating series of events. To think that this same tragedy has now led to a man sitting on death row for a crime that may not have even occurred is truly horrifying.… Continue reading
Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors’ push to overturn conviction
The recent execution of Marcellus Williams in Missouri is a stark reminder of the deep flaws and inherent injustices that plague our justice system. Despite the lack of forensic evidence linking Williams to the crime, and despite prosecutors retracting his conviction, the state went ahead with his execution. It is a disturbing example of how the system can fail, and how the very people it is meant to protect can be failed by it.
It is appalling to think that a man’s life was taken based on shaky evidence and questionable circumstances.… Continue reading
As I sit here, grappling with the news of Marcellus Williams’ execution in Missouri despite prosecutors pushing to overturn his conviction, I am filled with a mixture of anger, sadness, and disbelief. The sheer injustice of it all is staggering. Here was a man who, at the very least, had enough doubt surrounding his guilt that his own legal team sought to halt his execution in exchange for a new sentence of life without parole. His plea deal was signed off by a judge and even the victim’s family did not want to see him put to death. Yet, the State Attorney General, the Governor, and the State Supreme Court pushed relentlessly to ensure that he met his end.… Continue reading
As a resident of Texas, the recent news regarding an innocent man on death row is deeply troubling. The case of the death row prisoner facing execution despite evidence pointing to his innocence is not an isolated incident. This story, sadly, echoes numerous other cases of individuals wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in the state of Texas. The justice system, which is supposed to ensure fairness and accuracy, has failed many innocent individuals, leading to irreversible consequences.
The heartbreaking story of the death row prisoner, wrongly accused of causing harm to a child, sheds light on the flaws and biases present in our legal system.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker