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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 representative files bill to 'optimize' death row

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Missouri's death chamber
Missouri's death chamber
New rule would expedite execution process for those without further chance of appeal

State lawmakers will soon discuss House Bill 1647, which would reform Missouri's execution process.

State Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, said the bill would require the state Supreme Court to perform a review on all pending death row cases within 30 days of it passing.

The bill would also require the court to schedule an execution within 60 days of the review's completion.

Kelley said the bill would both save the state about $30,000 a year per inmate. 

He said it would more effectively carry out the court's decision to impose the death penalty.

"My goal is not to ever execute anyone that's innocent. That's no one's goal," Kelley said. "When you have a person who's admitted they are guilty, once there are no more appeals available, that sentence needs to be carried out."

There are currently 27 inmates facing the death penalty in Missouri.

Source: ABC news, December 11, 2015

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Location: Missouri, USA
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