Tag: Death penalty

Death in Florida


Ron De Santis continues his campaign of executions

March 2026

We have recently drawn attention to individual executions being carried out in Florida as part, it is claimed, of governor De Santis’s desire to show he is tough on crime. Florida is known as the ‘sunshine state’ but a pall is cast over it by the list of people put to death or who are scheduled to be executed. The sunshine is dimmed. The US is currently bombing Iran as part of a campaign who’s objectives are not that clear but involve death and destruction of many Iranians. De Santis, along with President Trump, seems to think that violence is some kind of an answer to problems.

Florida executed 19 people in 2025 – the highest number in modern history (Source: Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.). The state contributed 40% of executions in USA and was around one every 12.26 days – [13th February to 18th December 2025]. In the current rush to carry out executions there is an average 30 day warrant period. People sometimes forget that many spend decades on death row which is typically 33 years from offence to execution.

The list of executions in 2025:

Note UK date format day/month/year

· James Ford 13.2.25

· Edward James 20.3.25

· Michael Tanzi 8.4.25

· Jeffrey Hutchinson 1.5.25

· Glen Rogers 15.5.25

· Anthony Wainwright 10.6.25

· Thomas Gudinas 24.6.25

· Michael Bell 15.7.25

· Edward Zakrzewski 31.7.25

· Kayle Bates 19.8.25

· Curtis Windom 28.8.25

· David Pittman 17.9.25

· Victor Jones 30.9.25

· Samuel Smithers 14.10.25

· Norman Grim 28.10.25

· Bryan Jennings 13.11.25

· Richard Randolph 20.11.15

· Mark Geralds 9.12.25

· Frank Walls 19.12.25

An important issue in considering the system in the state is convictions are often based on non-unanimous juries – 8 out of 12 – allowing significant doubt among jurors. There should be a high degree of unanimity by the jury if someone is to be executed not one that allows a considerable degree of uncertainty.

Unusually among states, the governor has sole authority to schedule executions. Since the governor is committed to the use of the penalty for – it is alleged – to promote his desire to be the next president of the Union, this is a doubtful power to confer on one man. They also want to widen the scope of crimes carrying the penalty. Legislation tightening immigration laws eg mandating death penalty for ‘unauthorised aliens’ convicted of certain capital crimes is planned.

As we discussed in detail in our last post, there are many ethical and constitutional concerns about the process of

execution itself and the use of expired drugs, incorrect dosages, and use of non-listed drugs. Numbers of prisoners on death row have filed claims with the US Supreme Court that the State repeatedly violated its own execution protocol amid an unprecedented execution spree. They have raised the fact that Florida is the only State to include a paralytic medication in its three-drug execution protocol. This means witnesses are unable to see any physical signs of distress. Ronald Heath and Melvyn Trotter have presented evidence showing the use of expired drugs, incorrectly prepared and incomplete dosages, drugs not authorised by the protocol, and documentation not completed at the time. (Source: FADP.)

The current year 2026 to date:

Executions – 2

· Ronald Palmer Heath– 10.2.26

· Melvyn Trotter -24.2.26 – Court in first trial mishandled aggravating factors but re-sentenced to death; claims re: drugs as above.

Scheduled – 3

· Billy Leon Kearse – 3.3.26 – 18 at the time of crime (killing Enforcement Officer) with intellectual disability

· Michael Lee King – 17.3.26 – convicted of murder. At 6, severe frontal lobe injury following accident – neuropsychological testing and brain imaging revealed structural abnormalities affecting his executive functioning. Full details were never adequately presented to sentencing jury.

· James Duckett – 31.3.26 – sentenced to death by 8:4 jury.

There is an irony that the US is engaged in a war in Iran against a regime President Trump regards as vicious and [to be] terrible people. He is angry – often speaking from his Florida home – about how the Ayatollahs treat their people which includes a heavy use of the death penalty. Yet the very same state is busy executing a record number of people often in a rushed and unsatisfactory fashion. Does not Trump have his own Ayatollah on the doorstep?

It is worth repeating that there is no evidence that the penalty is a deterrent. A recent report by the Death Penalty Information Center discusses this. It points out for example that when states have abol­ished the death penal­ty, mur­der rates have not fol­lowed any con­sis­tent pat­tern of change. Rates in states that for­mer­ly retained the death penal­ty fol­low nation­al trends rather than spik­ing or falling after abolition. Earlier research by the National Academies also expresses doubt and does not find conclusive evidence of effectiveness.

The penalty involves the state using violence against an individual. A fundamental problem is that mistakes cannot be put right. Once executed someone cannot be brought back to life if new evidence emerges. The state has an unenviable history of mistakes. Those in line for execution cannot afford expensive or experienced lawyers and as Clive Stafford Smith has described in his books, it may well be the the first murder trial a defence {defense} attorney has carried out. Unlike the UK for example which has passed laws* to ensure the defence has all the evidence, no such law exists in Florida.

The most damning judgement is that if the allegations are true, then the penalty is being used for a political purpose: that is to demonstrate that the governor is ‘tough on crime’ as part of his desire to be president of the US.

*Police and Criminal Evidence Act introduced after several miscarriages of justice.

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Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. The group publishes a monthly report on the penalty around the world (see the link above for the most recent).

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This month’s Death Penalty report


Report for mid – February to mid – March

March 2026

We are pleased to attach this month’s report on the use of the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It features several US states, Iran, Israel and India. We note as ever that China is thought to be the world’s largest executioner of its citizens but details are a state secret.

Report (Word)Download

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Another execution in Florida


Billy Kearse executed on Tuesday in Florida’s killing spree

March 2026

Florida is proceeding apace with its execution programme (program) and Billy Kearse was executed on Tuesday 3rd March 2026. Florida seems to have overtaken Texas as the state keenest to use the penalty. Questions have been raised about the use of the drugs and the secrecy of the process.

Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor has alleged that the state has failed to follow the protocols which raised the possibility that the executions would violate the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution by causing additional and unnecessary pain and suffering.

This seems to be backed up by evidence produced by The Independent Florida Alligator which has published details of the ages of the drugs used showing that some had expired. The article suggests that the state’s protocol consists only of ‘two sentences’. However, the protocol we have found is longer than that at 14 pp. It is worth reading this as it is ghoulish to read the process of putting someone to death. A remorseless list of actions setting out what is to be done, before, during and after execution.

The Secretary of the Florida Dept. of Corrections, Ricky Dixon, said ‘the foremost objective of the lethal injection process is a humane and dignified death’ (18 February 2025). This must be questioned if out of date drugs are used. Indeed, the protocol says ‘the designated team member will ensure that the lethal chemicals have not reached or surpassed their expiration date’ (rule 6).

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator, WCADP, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Death Penalty Information Center, Florida Dept. Corrections.

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Executions continue at pace in Florida


Governor De Santis breaking records in Florida

March 2026

On this day when it has been reported that the death toll in the US/Israel school bombing in Iran has risen to 148 with a further 95 injured, it may seem contrary to mention the death penalty in Florida. Governor De Santis is hell bent on his execution spree with 5 new death sentences so far this year following on from the record 19 executions in 2025. They are related in the sense that violence is seen as a solution to problems. The US is the only nation in the Americas to have the death penalty in some states. Bombing or putting to death: it seems to be part of some politician’s thinking that such violence is a cure or a solution. It appears to give them a sense of accomplishment. Yet in truth it solves nothing.

The death penalty in the state has many dubious characteristics. As Clive Safford-Smith has noted in his book – Life and Death in the Court Rooms of America for example – the justice system for those without financial means works imperfectly. Injustice in these circumstances is bad enough but when it leads to the death of an individual it is unconscionable. Police do not always disclose all the evidence which might exonerate the accused. Only eight out of 12 jurors are needed for a guilty verdict.

Latest execution this Tuesday (3rd March)

The latest scheduled execution is Billy Kearse (pictured). The murder of Sgt. Parrish devastated his family and the Fort Pierce community. Nothing about our opposition to this execution diminishes that loss. Still, Billy is a person with intellectual disability who was just 18 years and 84 days old at the time of the crime, which is exactly why three Florida Supreme Court Justices said his was “clearly not a death case.” Basic decency and the rule of law demand we take that seriously.

Ron De Santis is a keen proponent of the death penalty saying “I think we’re in a good spot now, and I want to make sure that people (Death Row inmates) that have exhausted all these appeals over many years, sometimes decades, like when all that’s done …, and there’s victims’ families that are wanting to see justice, that I’m doing my part to deliver that,”

House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, acknowledged she might sound “cynical,” but she indicated the increase in De Santis signing death warrants could be tied to his political ambitions.

“What we’ve seen from this governor, and past behavior is oftentimes a predictor of where future behavior might go, this is a governor who’s been so focused on his own ambitions, his personal ambitions, he wants to impress Republican primary voters,” Driskell said Monday during a conference call with reporters. [Source: WUSF]

De Santis wants executions to be carried out quickly believing that they will act as a “strong deterrent”. There is no evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent and there is little difference in murder rates between states with the penalty and those without. Florida has the highest level of exonerations of all states in the Union.

Sources: Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, https://www.wusf.org, Hoodline, Jacksonville

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Minutes and Newsletter


February 2026

We attach the group’s minutes of its February meeting thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling them and for other members Fiona and Andrew for their contributions. We do not produce a newsletter so these minutes, although longer than normally the case with minutes, contain items of wider interest.

Human rights shot to the top of the agenda this week following the High Court’s decision concerning Palestine Action which has been another blow for the government.

February minutes an d Newsletter (Word)Download

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Latest death penalty report


Report for mid January to mid February

February 2026

We are pleased to attach the latest monthly report on the state of the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the extensive work in compiling it. Good and bad but mostly the latter, with Florida leading the charge in the US and Iran engaged in a continuing programme of executions. As ever we have no information on China which probably carries out more executions than the rest of the world combined but whose details are a state secret.

Report January to February (Word)Download

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Imminent execution of ‘Ronnie’ Heath


Appeal for clemency in Florida

January 2026

Florida plans to execute Ronald “Ronnie” Heath on February 10, despite overwhelming evidence that execution would serve no purpose of justice, fairness, or accountability. Ronnie has spent nearly 35 years on death row for the murder of Michael Sheridan, a devastating crime that ended a human life and caused immeasurable harm to the people who loved him. Nothing in this request diminishes that loss or the gravity of the violence that occurred.

Ronnie has endured decades of incarceration, survived extreme trauma, and demonstrated profound growth and change. Meanwhile, his equally culpable co-defendant — his own brother — is alive, incarcerated, and now eligible for parole. Clemency exists for cases exactly like this: when punishment has become disproportionate, when juries never heard critical life-shaping evidence, when modern science changes how we understand culpability, and when execution would only compound harm rather than serve justice.

The Governor and Florida’s Clemency Board have the power and the responsibility to stop this execution. Your letter can help make that difference.

The above text by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The petition to sign can be accessed from this link.

FADP is a Florida-based, state-wide organization working to end the death penalty in Florida. Their network includes dozens of state and local groups and thousands of individual Floridians, including murder victims’ family members and other survivors of violent crime, law enforcement professionals, families of the incarcerated, and death row exonerees. 

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent and mistakes, which are not infrequent, cannot afterwards be rectified. We deprecate what appears to be the Florida state governor, Ron DeSantis using the penalty to demonstrate he is ‘tough on crime’ as part of his alleged desire to be the next president of the USA.

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Florida kicks the year off with an execution


Florida continues its record breaking run

January 2026

Last night (January 10th), Governor DeSantis signed the first execution warrant of 2026. Ronald Palmer Heath is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 10th for the 1989 murder of Michael Sheridan in Alachua County. Last year saw a record number of executions in Florida exceeding all others in the US. Several US papers refer to the killings as a ‘spree’.

If the execution proceeds, it will mark the 28th execution under Gov. Ron DeSantis — part of an unprecedented escalation in Florida’s use of the death penalty. The murder of Michael Sheridan was a tragedy, and his loss is still being grieved to this day. But, killing Ronnie will not bring Michael back.

It seems to be part of the Governor’s desire to show he’s tough on crime and help in his desire to become president.

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent. Mistakes, and there are many, cannot be rectified. The justice system in the State is less than satisfactory and the jury in this case was split on the subject of execution.

Source: Floridians Against the Death Penalty and AP. On the FADP site there is the opportunity to sign a petition. We are grateful to FADP for some of the text used in this post.

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Latest death penalty report


January 2026

We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Florida is a feature this month with the rapid increase in the number of executions. Saudi has executed a huge number of people – almost one a day. We note as ever that China executes more of its people than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Mid December to mid January. WordDownload
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Surge in executions in Saudi


Almost one execution a day and a new record

January 2026

No less than 356 people were executed in 2025 exceeding the grizzly total of 338 in the previous year. Large numbers are foreign individuals. Many are executed for drugs crimes sometimes involving trivial amounts. Trials are notoriously unfair and the use of torture is routine. Most executions are thought to be by beheading.

Human Rights Watch refers to the ‘weaponising the penalty’ as a means to curb dissent. The de facto leader of Saudi is Mohammad bin Salman who was said to be keen to modernise the Kingdom. On this showing it would seem he has some way to go.

Sportswashing

A feature of the Kingdom is the vast amount being spent on sport in what has been termed ‘sportswashing’. Aided by leaders such as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump he has purchased the English football club Newcastle United and has secured the rights to the World Cup in 2034. This increase in largesse followed the murder of Khashoggi which sent huge shock waves around the world and was almost certainly ordered by MBS. We have noted before that there is no difficulty in recruiting sportsmen and women to compete in a wide variety of sports including golf, tennis, F1 motor racing, cycling and equestrianism.

He quoted as saying that “he does not care about sportswashing criticism” so long as the long-term diversification away from oil dependency is successful.

He need not worry. Western politicians are falling over themselves to visit and seek to secure trade deals. The British government’s desire for growth means human rights considerations are unlikely to intrude. The massive number of executions are unlikely to form more than a ripple on the UK government’s desire for exports, the sale of arms and investment in the UK itself.

There is a small hint of concern in an Early Day Motion 1411 in June last year:

“That this House remains concerned about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia; welcomes the recent release of dozens of political prisoners, including University of Leeds PhD student Salma al-Shehab, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani, and doctor Lina Alsharif; notes, however, that released individuals face continued restrictions, including travel bans; further notes that others remain arbitrarily imprisoned for peaceful dissent, such as Manahel al-Otaibi; is alarmed by the record number of death penalty executions, with 345 in 2024 and over 140 in 2025 so far, with a number of persons who committed their alleged crimes as minors facing execution; is concerned about labour exploitation and potential deaths of workers in connection with the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other mega-projects in the absence of fundamental labour rights reform; calls on the UK Government to urge Saudi Arabia to release all those imprisoned for defending or exercising their rights and to establish a moratorium on use of the death penalty; and further calls on the Government to actively raise such rights issues and cases of concern, including in connection with on-going discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council states on a Free Trade Agreement”. [Source House of Commons accessed 2 January]

There were 15 signatures, none of which were Conservative.

One execution is noteworthy and that is of Turki al-Jasser in June. He was a journalist who worked for the Al Taqreer newspaper which the regime closed down. He wrote articles exposing the corruption within the Royal Family. He was arrested and his home searched. Much of what happened to him was surrounded in secrecy. His family did not know of his execution until after the event.

We seem to have moved to a situation where a high level of gross human rights violations are the norm and the desire for trade effectively trumps any meaningful political concern. Sport is being successfully being used to sanitise the regime’s reputation and millions are happy to spectate with little concern for what takes place behind the scenes.

Sources: HRW, MSN, Guardian, Council on Foreign Relations, Amnesty.

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