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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Missouri Prison Guard Investigated for Supporting Death Row Inmate’s Clemency Request

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John Winfield
John Winfield
POTOSI, Mo. (KMOX) - The Potosi Correctional Center is investigating a staff member for the offense of “over-familiarity” because the staff member has pledged support for inmate John Winfield’s petition for clemency.

According to court documents, the guard has worked for the Department of Corrections for more than 20 years.

He has supervised Winfield’s work for years and “superlatively describes Mr. Winfield’s work habits, his kindness to other prisoners, and the respect with which he is regarded by staff and prisoners alike.”

The staff members notes that Winfield took a special interest in looking after the inmates in the Special Needs Unit, who have disabilities, and he further describes Winfield as among the “elite one percent of all inmates.”

Winfield is scheduled to die June 18 for killing two women in St. Louis County in 1996.

The documents also state that in the guard’s more than 20 years of service, “he has met a few exceptional individuals who have been sentenced to death, but who have become changed men.” He states that Winfield is “a compassionate and generous person who has the ability to mentor young inmates and change their lives.”

Source: CBS, KMOX, June 3, 2014
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