convicted

In a tragic event back in May 2006, the unthinkable happened outside a school in Edgware, north-west London, where a young life was snuffed out far too soon. Kiyan Prince, a promising 15-year-old footballer with dreams that extended far beyond the playing field, was fatally stabbed while trying to intervene in a fight. This intense moment, arising from youthful bravado and miscalculations, forever altered the lives of those left behind. Fast forward to recent developments, and we now find ourselves reflecting on the…

A man convicted of the heinous crime of murdering and dismembering nine individuals he met online has been executed in Japan. This marks the nation's first implementation of the death penalty since 2022. Takahiro Shiraishi, aged 34, faced execution for the tragic deaths of his young victims, the majority of whom were women, whom he connected with on the social media platform now known as X. Dubbed the "Twitter Killer," Shiraishi specifically targeted users who expressed suicidal thoughts, offering to assist in their plans…

Two Men Found Guilty of Financing 2019 Al-Shabaab Hotel Attack in Kenya NAIROBI, Kenya - In a development that echoes the complex layers of justice and retribution, a Kenyan court has delivered a verdict on a case charged with deep emotional and national significance. Two men, Hussein Mohamed Abdille Ali and Mohamed Abdi Ali, stood before the Kahawa Law Courts, accused of orchestrating financial logistics for a horrifying event that shook Kenya to its core in 2019. This incident resulted in the tragic loss of 21…

In a significant legal decision, two former friends have been convicted for their roles in the deliberate destruction of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Britain. Their actions have been characterized as “deliberate and mindless criminal damage.” Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers embarked on a reckless midnight journey of over 50 kilometers through a storm from their homes in Cumbria to the famed Northumberland site. There, one of them felled the beloved sycamore with a chainsaw while the other recorded the act. During the…

Angelo Becciu, an Italian cardinal who has been convicted of embezzlement and subsequently stripped of his privileges by Pope Francis, has announced that he will not participate in the upcoming conclave to elect a new Catholic leader. In a statement released by his lawyer, Cardinal Becciu indicated his intention to respect the wishes of the late pontiff, thereby ending a period of speculation regarding his potential involvement with other cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel on May 7. “I have decided to obey, as I have…

In a significant and controversial event, a death row inmate in Louisiana was executed using nitrogen inhalation, a method previously employed solely in neighboring Alabama. This technique has drawn criticism from UN experts, who have likened it to a form of torture. Forty-six-year-old Jessie Hoffman was convicted of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Mary "Molly" Elliot in 1996. His execution marks the first in Louisiana in a staggering 15 years. The announcement of Hoffman's execution came through statements made by two…

Nearly eight years have passed since the tragic death of Danielle McLaughlin, a young Irish woman whose life was cut short in India. This week, her family shared a bittersweet sense of closure, as Vikat Bhagat, a 31-year-old local man, was conviction for both her rape and murder. Danielle hailed from Buncrana, County Donegal. She had embarked on a journey to India, seeking adventure and purpose. Structuring her travels around yoga training, she had already volunteered in an orphanage during a previous stay in the country.…

In a poignant chapter of American justice, the state of Alabama recently executed Demetrius Frazier, a man condemned for heinous crimes committed over three decades ago. His death, administered through nitrogen gas—a method that has spurred considerable ethical debate—marks the fourth instance of this controversial approach to capital punishment within Alabama’s borders. Frazier, aged 52 at the time of his execution, was sentenced to death in 1996 for the brutal murder of Pauline Brown, a 40-year-old mother of two, whose…

MOGADISHU/BERLIN - In a recent development, Somalia has agreed to bring back 20 of its citizens who ran afoul of the law in Germany, facing grave charges like murder and sexual assault. This decision emerged from powwows between the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, underscoring that the repatriation is not a dig at the larger Somali refugee family in Germany. Somalia's state minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, in a chat with VOA Somali, stressed that these folks have…

FILE - At a government assembly in Mogadishu, Somali Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar Ali Balcad voices significant national subjects.In a recent announcement, the Somali government cleared the air about the imminent return of a small group of Somali citizens from Germany. These individuals, having been found guilty of severe crimes, are scheduled for repatriation soon, thus sparking conversation about whether this might impact the larger Somali refugee community residing in Germany. Shedding light on the matter, Deputy…