Category: Death penalty

Execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee fails


Terrifying failure to execute Christa Pike in Tennessee

October 2026

It seems as far as Tennessee is concerned, actually executing someone is more difficult than might be supposed. Christa Pike was on the gurney and the supposedly lethal drugs were injected twice. Forty minutes later, she was heard snoring from behind a screen and was taken to hospital.

There seems no doubt that Christa committed the murder of a fellow 19 year old 30 years ago in 1995. She was sentenced to death at the time. As is common in America, the appeals process can take decades and last right up to the last moment. The latest appeal concerns how she was treated as a child with evidence of rape and sexual abuse.

There followed a tussle between the Tennessee Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court with the latter agreeing the execution could go ahead. Three justices dissented.

USA is the only country in the Americas still to retain the penalty and these events add a further twist to the campaign to end the penalty it including Tennesseans for Alternative to the Death Penalty. Amnesty is opposed to the penalty in all circumstances.

We may amend this post in the light of further developments. The failed execution has led to a storm of protest in the US.

Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, BBC, Guardian. We were unable to access the Tennessean.

Uyghur campaign


Some members of the group meet for a photo op October 2026 Throughout August the Salisbury group took part in the national campaign to highlight the plight of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province in China. We reported on the extreme measures used by the Chinese to repress the culture, language and religion of this…

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Palantir demonstration


Members of the Salisbury group take part in national demonstration about this firm October 2026 The public are slowly becoming aware of the firm Palantir and how it is increasingly being used by British institutions. Profound worries are expressed on a number of counts about the use of this firm. They include the security of…

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Execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee fails


Terrifying failure to execute Christa Pike in Tennessee October 2026 It seems as far as Tennessee is concerned, actually executing someone is more difficult than might be supposed. Christa Pike was on the gurney and the supposedly lethal drugs were injected twice. Forty minutes later, she was heard snoring from behind a screen and was…

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Latest Death Penalty Report


Report for mid – July to mid – August

August 2026

We are pleased to attach the latest report with thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. The highlights in the report are

  • Conditional pardon offered to Ruth Ellis who was the last person to be hanged in Britain
  • In Lebanon a law has been passed abolishing the death penalty.  It will be the only country in the Middle East formally to end the penalty
  • Florida continues with its spate of executions including two on one day and Governor DeSantis is busy signing fresh warrants
  • Jermaine Wright, Delaware, becomes the 203rd person exonerated since 1973 and is declared innocent after 34 years on death row.

As ever we note that there is no data from China – believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world put together – because they are a state secret. It is another aspect of the persecution of the Uyghurs the subject of a series of posts elsewhere on this site.

Report: mid – July to mid – August (Word)Download

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Death penalty debate: Florida


Webinar on the penalty hosted by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

August 2026

Florida is featuring in the news on this topic because of its record use of the penalty having passed Texas as the state who previously held this dubious honour. Its passion for executions is allegedly because the governor, Ron DeSantis, is a keen proponent of its use. He believes it is a deterrent and also helps victim’s families come to terms with their loss. It is also alleged that he is keen to show himself to be tough on crime as part of his wish to become president of the US. Recently, on July 28th,, there were two executions in one day a kind of grisly record. In a previous post on this topic we wondered if it should no longer be known as the ‘Sunshine State’ but the ‘Death State’.

On the justification for its use, De Santis is wrong on both counts. There is no correlation between violent crime and the death penalty. US states or other countries internationally who do not use it, do not have higher levels of violent crime. Victims of crime as a speaker of the seminar observed, want the crimes solved.

Brief history

The history of the penalty in the US was discussed and the decision by the US Supreme Court in 1972 to rule, in the case of Furman v. Georgia, that the penalty was arbitrary and inconsistent (as between different states) and in contravention of the 8th and 14th Amendments. In 1976, the same court allowed the resumption of the penalty in Florida, Georgia and Texas. Since 1976, 12 states have abolished its use they noted.

There has been a gradual reduction in its use the speakers noted. In 1978 there was 84% support according to a Gallup pole. This has dropped to 36% now. Some supported it because they thought it cheaper. Since many are on death rows for decades this is not supported by the facts. A study by the Death Penalty Information Center showed that the cost in California was around $4bn.

It was noted that the US was a member of a motley collection of states still actively using it: China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia (interestingly, none noted Iran, another colossal user). To be among them was not exactly a badge of pride. The US was unique in the Americas still to use it.

The fact remains that many Americans support its use. Mr DeSantis obviously feels that his actions in making the state the nation’s chief executioner will improve his chances in the presidential primaries improving his tough on crime credentials.

Readers might want to revisit an earlier post on how the penalty and court system works in the state.

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British woman tried on an American base


US force personnel being tried on their bases for crimes they committed off base and off duty

July 2026

The rape, drugging and strangulation of a British woman by a US pilot may have gone completely unnoticed. Sarah Steele, an academic, had a relationship with a US air force pilot during which violence was used and she alleged he had unprotected sex without her wishes. She had a drug etizolam in her blood stream. This is an increasingly popular date rape drug especially when combined with alcohol.

Those who followed the Brexit arguments a decade ago will recall that one of the arguments used by those wishing to leave the European Union was a desire to ‘take back control’ and the related issue of sovereignty. These arguments persist today with a desire for the UK to leave the European Convention. There is an almost uncountable number of articles to this effect.

Yet here we have a serious and significant breach of UK sovereignty with a British woman having been savagely raped, being tried by American men on an American base in front of an American colonel with a stars and stripes flag behind him. Apart from the Guardian newspaper – the only journalists to be present – none of those same newspapers who relentlessly disparaged the EU were present. There is little sign of them having followed the story up either. Could it be possible that as many of them are American owned they have declined to soil their pages with the story?

Primitive treatment

The treatment of Ms Steele was primitive by UK legal standards. Apart from the whole thing being run by men and colleagues of the airman accused (who declined as was his right to give evidence) the Americans imported a particularly aggressive lawyer for cross-examination. His name is Tim Bilecki. He specialises in courts marshals and flies around the world defending servicemen. There are pages and pages of encomia on line (we gave up after 8 pages of them).

In court he accused her of being a ‘sex obsessed liar’. He said she was financially motivated and had fabricated the allegations as part of an elaborate scheme to win compensation. The cross-examination lasted hours and was distressing she reported. The gravity of the offence should have attracted a sentence of around 5 years maybe more. The jury decided on 6 months and he has been dismissed from the service. Another quirk is that at the time of this trial, juries could decide on sentencing in American court proceedings (in some states). That has now ended.

He can appeal but an added twist is that the appeal will take place in Maryland. Can we guess the result of that appeal?

The question has to be – who on earth in Cambridgeshire police agreed to cede jurisdiction to the Americans? The offence took place against a British woman off base. It is not the only such case. The government is looking into the circumstances of this case and others so we must hope for a more robust response in future. And where are our media when it comes to shining a spotlight on this behaviour? With threatened takeover of more of our TV networks by US companies, it is a warning that the lack of reporting of outrageous cases such as this is a real prospect. Justice must not only be done but must manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. Not hidden away on a US base.

The whole question of these bases came into the spotlight with the attack on Iran. Sir Keir Starmer is said not to have allowed our bases to be used for American aggression. As President Trump is no longer interested in NATO, what future for their bases on British soil?

NOTE: We normally cross check stories to seek multiple sources and differing points of view. We have been unable to do this with this post because of a complete absence of coverage by British media apart from the Guardian to whom we are grateful.

Image generated by AI.

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Death penalty in Florida


Should Florida become known as the ‘Death State’ in place of the Sunshine State?

July 2026

Two more executions are scheduled for same day – July 28th – in Florida as Governor Ron DeSantis pursues his mania for the policy. DeSantis said he believes the death penalty could be a “strong deterrent” to crime. “My view is it’s an appropriate punishment for the worst offenders,” he said. The evidence does not support his statement. Indeed the Death Penalty Project concludes:

‘Overall, homicide rates have been declining since the early 1990s across all US states. And increasing rates of homicide have not followed in those states which have abolished the death penalty during the past two decades. In fact, over the last 20 years, homicide rates in US states which retained the death penalty have been higher than those without it.

‘One study found that between 1974 and 2009, 447 executions occurred in the state of Texas, 13 occurred in California and none occurred in New York, yet rates of homicide followed similar patterns of fluctuation throughout this period across all three states, clearly influenced by factors other than punishments.’

‘Aping the President‘

Florida executed more than ever before in 2025. The State accounts for 40% of all executions in the US, a shocking statistic. The increase in the national statistic is almost entirely due to this one state. One commentator reflects in a Tampa Free Press article that DeSantis is aping the President “it matters to the President [Trump] so it matters to them.” It has also been suggested that the execution spree is part of the Governor’s desire to become the president at the end of President Trump’s term of office.

One of those due to be executed at the end of the month is 80 years old, Dominick Anthony Occhicone and his attorneys say he is in their opinion, too old to be executed.

There are still 246 individuals on death row in the state.

If these executions proceed, Florida will carry out two executions in a single day — the first time this has happened in the modern era of Florida’s death penalty. That fact alone should stop us in our tracks.

Amnesty opposes the use of use of the penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent. It perpetuates violence. Mistakes cannot be rectified (and there have been 30 exonerations in this state alone). The US is the only state in the Americas continuing to execute its citizens.

Another case

Another truly shocking case involves a man called Eddie Suggs who is on death row. Reading the astonishing story you learn that the evidence is so weak and flawed it’s a wonder that the case ever came to court. But he may lose his life. There is a petition to sign and we’d be grateful if you’d add your voice.

Sources: Death Penalty Information Center, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Florida Today, Tampa Free Press, AP News.

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Ruth Ellis pardon


Ruth was the last woman to be hanged in Britain

July 2026

Ruth Ellis was hanged in Holloway Prison in 1955 and was the last woman to receive this punishment. Hanging was abolished in 1969 but the execution of Ruth Ellis was one of the events which led to its abolition. The last execution was in 1964, that is 70 years ago. This week Ellis was given a conditional pardon by the government. The application was brought by four of Ellis’s grandchildren who said her action was profoundly shaped by domestic abuse, trauma and circumstances that were never properly recognised at her trial. It is likely that if her life of abuse was made known to the jury it is likely she would have been convicted of manslaughter.

The desire to restore the penalty emerges from time to time and ‘bring back hanging’ appears in some interviews especially after a terrible murder or a terrorist attack. A minor British political party, Restore, is campaigning for its return but it is not a policy of the major parties. The Daily Telegraph does not agree that she has been pardoned reflecting perhaps its older readership’s views about the penalty.

Amnesty believes it is wrong in all circumstances and campaigns for its abolition around the world. The US is the only country in the Americas to retain it in some states at least and in Florida, there has been an increase under Governor De Santis, it is suggested as part of his campaign to be President. Support in the States is slowly diminishing reflecting the views of younger Americans. China is the world leader in executions carrying out more than the rest of the world combined although exact figures are not known as they are a state secret.

There are many problems with the penalty the most obvious being that mistakes cannot be rectified once the execution has happened. And there are mistakes often because exculpatory evidence is sometimes withheld by police. Frequently, the defence is poor or because a key witness can lie to save their own skin. There is considerable racial bias. It does not deter crime as is often claimed: there are no significant differences in crime between states with the penalty and those without. It is very expensive especially in the US where prisoners live for years on death row waiting results of appeals. It is a barbaric practice and simply perpetuates the cycle of violence.

Each month the Salisbury group publishes a report on the use of the penalty around the world.

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Death penalty report


Monthly report on the use of the penalty around the world

July 2026.

There is a lot of interest in this month’s report which covers the period mid-June to mid-July 2026 and is preprared by group member Lesley to whom we are grateful for the work in compiling it. There is more content in this report on conferences where the future of the penalty was discussed for example the Ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty.

Report June July (Word)Download
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Latest death penalty report


Report for mid-May to mid-June

June 2026

We are pleased to attach our latest report on the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Although there is mention of a case in China, that country does not appear despite executing more or its citizens than the rest of the world combined.

Report May – June (Word)Download
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Richard Glossip interview


Glossip is interviewed after his release from prison

June 2026

After fac­ing nine exe­cu­tion dates, and being giv­en three last meals, Richard Glossip was released on bail on May 14, 2026 and set foot out­side of prison walls for the first time in near­ly three decades. In an inter­view with The Intercept, Mr. Glossip dis­cuss­es adjust­ing phys­i­cal­ly and emo­tion­al­ly to his new life as he awaits a pos­si­ble retri­al for the 1997 crime that sent him to death row, despite his long­stand­ing claims of inno­cence. Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai ordered his release on a $500,000 bond, stat­ing ​“The Court hopes that a new tri­al, free of error, will pro­vide all inter­est­ed par­ties, and the cit­i­zens of Oklahoma, the clo­sure they deserve.”

“I tried nev­er to let myself become insti­tu­tion­al­ized… But I mean it’s hard. You go through all these hor­ri­ble things and all these dif­fer­ent dates … and last meals and every­thing. And then it doesn’t look like this day will ever get here. But you always hope that it will“.

Mr. Glossip said of the wide­spread atten­tion on his case, ​“It’s over­whelm­ing but it’s amaz­ing at the same time.” Since his release, he has been able to reunite with his wife Lea, with whom he first cor­re­spond­ed and lat­er mar­ried while in prison. In a con­ver­sa­tion with The Intercept, Mr. Glossip described ini­tial­ly hav­ing dif­fi­cul­ty sleep­ing with­out the con­stant noise of prison, eat­ing at a neigh­bor­hood Italian restau­rant with his wife, and going food shop­ping. He also dis­cussed feel­ing sup­port­ed by his com­mu­ni­ty in Oklahoma. He recount­ed sev­er­al sto­ries of being rec­og­nized, includ­ing by a bar­ber who refused pay­ment for his hair­cut, telling Mr. Glossip it was ​“an hon­or” to cut his hair.

“Once you’re out here and you see all the things that was tak­en away from you — and all the times they almost took every­thing away from me, my life and every­thing — you see all of it now… And it kind of still makes me angry at times because none of this should have ever hap­pened. And this should have nev­er been tak­en from me in the first place”.

Mr. Glossip is now await­ing a pos­si­ble retri­al for his alleged involve­ment in the 1997 ​“mur­der-for-hire” of Barry Van Trees, his boss at an Oklahoma City Motel. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who pre­vi­ous­ly con­fessed error in the pros­e­cu­tions that end­ed in Mr. Glossip’s death sen­tence, announced that his office will not seek the death penal­ty in his new tri­al. The Supreme Court vacat­ed Mr. Glossip’s con­vic­tion and death sen­tence in February 2025, find­ing that pros­e­cu­tors allowed a key wit­ness to lie in court and with­held cru­cial infor­ma­tion from the defense about the same wit­ness. AG Drummond, who sup­port­ed Mr. Glossip’s appeal to the United States Supreme Court, now says “…my office will make sure Mr. Glossip receives a fair tri­al based on hard facts, sol­id evi­dence and truthful testimony.” 

They’ll make the right deci­sions. I know they will. I wouldn’t be out here today if they wasn’t… So I’m just going to let them han­dle it. … I’m just gonna enjoy life.

This text is from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

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Execution spree continues in Florida


Man on death row for 34 years due to be executed

May 2026

The pace of executions in Florida continues and the latest is Dusty Ray Spencer who has been on death row since 1992. Gov. De Santis has signed the warrant and the due date is noon on June 25th. Florida accounts for 40% of all US executions last year according to Amnesty International. It is the tenth such warrant signed by the governor this year. The state set a record in 2025 with 19 executions.

Spencer was convicted of murdering his wife in a violent assault. This was witnessed by his son who tried unsuccessfully to intervene. The Jury voted 7-5 in favour of execution. There have been a number of appeals. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty state that if the case was heard today, he would be unlikely to receive the death penalty. In the light of all the executions FADP say that ‘We reject the idea that executions are inevitable. Nothing requires the state of Florida to respond to violence with more violence. Our leaders still have a choice’.

In preparing this piece we have explored a number of articles in the US and Florida media and there is little to explain how a marine who apparently had a good service record, became this violent individual. There are brief mentions of his mental state but little else.

If you visit the FADP site there is a petition. Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We publish a report each month on the use of the penalty around the world.

Sources: CBS News, FADP, Tampa Bay Times, Justia Law, ‘They Will Kill You’

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