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Arkansas Supreme Court Decision Allows New DNA Testing in Case of the ​“West Memphis Three,” Convicted of Killing Three Children in 1993

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On April 18, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court decided 4-3 to reverse a 2022 lower court decision and allow genetic testing of crime scene evidence from the 1993 killing of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis. The three men convicted in 1994 for the killings were released in 2011 after taking an Alford plea, in which they maintained their innocence but plead guilty to the crime, in exchange for 18 years’ time served and 10 years of a suspended sentence. 

Philippines: Death by firing squad, hanging unconstitutional – Sotto

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Senator Manny Pacquiao, left, and President Rodrigo Duterte
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III rejected on Wednesday the proposal to impose death penalty either by firing squad or hanging for being unconstitutional.

Two proponents of the proposed reimposition of the death penalty —neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Senator Manny Pacquiao— have openly pushed for firing squad if the measure is enacted into law.

For high – level drug trafficking, Pacquiao said the death penalty should be imposed by firing squad and lethal injection for plunderers.

Sotto, Dela Rosa and Pacquiao are among the senators, who have filed a death penalty measure.

“Hindi pwede, unconstitutional lahat yun,” he said in an interview over DZBB on Wednesday.

“Sapagkat nakalagay sa Constitution, hindi pwede ang hindi humane penalty. Hindi humane lahat yun. It does not fall under the category of humane.”

The only humane penalty, which he said had already been brought before the Supreme Court, is to impose death by lethal injection.

President Rodrigo Duterte, during his State of the Nation Address, has called for the passage of the death penalty bill for heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.

While Sotto expects lengthy debates in the Senate, he still believes the measure could still get the support of 13 to 14 or majority of the 24 senators.

Should it fail to get Congress’ approval, Sotto said he would revive his measure that would establish a national penitentiary for high level drug traffickers.

But for now, Sotto said they would push for the reimposition of the death penalty since many Filipinos, including the President, are clamoring for it.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net, Staff, July 25, 2019


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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Location: Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
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