May 2024
We are pleased to attach our latest monthly report covering the period mid April to mid May thanks to the work of group member Lesley in compiling it.
Death penalty report
April 2024
We are pleased to attach this month’s report for the period mid March to mid April thanks for group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Reports include those from USA, Congo, Pakistan and Russia.
The Salisbury group was established 50 years ago this year
March minutes
March 2024
We are pleased to attach the minutes of the group’s meeting in March thanks to group member Lesley for producing them. As we have explained before, they are lengthier than one would expect from normal minutes but as we do not produce a newsletter, they provide information of possible interest for recipients and supporters.
Due to a misunderstanding of WordPress statistics, previous reports of visitor numbers were erroneously reported and in fact are at a much higher level than realised. This arose because ‘visits’ are in fact visits by new people. Existing visitors – those whose IP address will be recognised – are not included in the figure.
The Salisbury Group was established 50 years ago this year.
Death penalty report
March 2024
We are pleased to attach the February – March death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Note as ever, there are no details from China which is believed to execute more of its citizens than any other country, because the information is a state secret.
The Salisbury Group was established 50 years ago this year
Death penalty report
February 2024
We are pleased to attach this months death penalty report covering the period mid-January to mid-February thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It contains details from Iran, which has gone on an execution ‘spree’ to try and silence protests, Japan, Zimbabwe and China but note that it is believed to be the world’s largest executioner but details are a state secret.
Alabama execution carried out
Execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith carried out yesterday despite widespread protests
January 2024
Kenneth Smith was executed yesterday (25 January) in Alabama after serving over 30 years on death row. What brought the execution to world-wide attention was the use of nitrogen hypoxia as the chosen method. Reports seem to show that the execution was prolonged and took over 20 minutes to complete. One report said he ‘thrashed violently’ while dying. This is the first time the gas has been used to execute someone and is as a result of pharmaceutical companies, in America and elsewhere, being reluctant to supply the drugs needed for lethal injection.
The jury in his trial voted for a life sentence but the judge in the case overruled them.
This was not the first attempt at executing Smith: there was an attempt in November 2022 by lethal injection but which failed after several unsuccessful efforts to find a vein. Smith suffered considerably during and after that attempt.
Executions are declining in the USA, the only country in the Americas which still executes its citizens.
Amnesty is opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
Sources: BBC; Death Penalty Information Center; Montgomery Advertiser; Birmingham Real-Time News
Salisbury group minutes
January 2024
We are pleased to attach the minutes of our last meeting held on Thursday 11th January with thanks to group member Lesley for preparing them. They give details of forthcoming activities. New members are always welcome and perhaps the best thing if you are thinking of joining is to come to one of our events and make yourself known. It is free to join the local group but if you wish to join Amnesty International UK there is a fee.
Death penalty report
January 2024
We attach the latest monthly death penalty report around the world for the period mid December 2023 to mid January 2024 thanks to group member Lesley for its preparation. We note as usual that there is no information from China – believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined – because the information is a state secret. It is noted that in 2023, the USA was the only G7 country to execute people with Texas the state carrying out most executions.
Death penalty report
Death penalty report for mid November to mid December 2023
December 2023
We are pleased to attach the latest monthly death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in preparing it. As well as news from America, we report Iran has used the conflict in Gaza to mount a series of executions hoping the world will not notice. For the first time we include a small item about China which is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but where details are a state secret.
Obituary: Benedict Birnberg
Pioneering lawyer who campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty in the UK
November 2023
This post based on an obituary in the Guardian, 14 November 2023
Younger and foreign readers may not have heard of Derek Bentley who became a cause celebre in the UK and was one of the last people to be executed. He and an accomplice Christopher Craig were engaged in robbing a warehouse in Croydon, south London when they were spotted by a policeman who was shot by Craig. Bentley shouted ‘let him have it, Chris’ and these words were sufficient to see him hang. Of course these words are open to considerable interpretation since they can mean both shoot him or they can mean give him the gun. They were sufficient to see him hang.
Birnberg pursued the case relentlessly until in 1993 a royal pardon was issued revoking the death sentence because Bentley had been denied a fair trial and because of a partisan summing up by the judge Lord Goddard. His 30 year campaigning led, 30 years later in 1969, to the death penalty being abolished for nearly all crimes.
The case illustrated that where the penalty is used mistakes can never be rectified. It is one of the reasons Amnesty campaigns for the death penalty to be abolished around the world. Each month, we publish a report on the use of penalty around the world.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire - 50 this year! 