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Indonesia | 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s ordeal and fight for justice

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MANILA, Philippines — The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker. Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in October – just six months after her arrest. Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty in May 2011.

Louisiana | Governor Jeff Landry looks to reinstate executions for death row inmates

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The Advocate newspaper reports Governor Jeff Landry will look to restart executions in Louisiana. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s not a surprise since Landry has made it known that he wants to deter crime.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that he’s going to try to push that and have it in his legislation as he campaigned across Louisiana  on reducing crimes and violent crime across Louisiana.”

Louisiana has not executed anyone since Gerald Bordelon in 2010. Before Bordelon’s execution, the state’s last execution was in 2002. Pinsonat says Landry could support a death penalty bill in the upcoming special session on crime.

“What’s going to be in his legislation and what type of method will he use to execute people on death row?”

Executions have stopped in Louisiana because former Governor John Bel Edwards opposed the death penalty. 

Also, the drugs needed to carry out an execution have been difficult to obtain. But Alabama just used nitrogen gas to execute a death-row prisoner. 

Pinsonat believes Landry was paying attention.

“I don’t think we have to guess about it, I think he’s going to push for that. I think he’s also talking about what method is he going to use.”

There are currently 59 people on death row.

Source: louisianaradionetwork.com, Teiko Foxx, January 29, 2024

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