Latest Criminal punishment News
Fourth man released in Philadelphia in review of 'sex for lies' scheme in 1980s homicide unit
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia man has been released from prison after 41 years in the latest review of convictions allegedly tainted by detectives who offered to arrange sexual liaisons for witnesses in exchange for false testimony. Russell Williams, 67, is the fourth person...
Ex-Northwestern professor's murder conviction overturned, case sent back to trial court
CHICAGO (AP) — The murder conviction of a former Northwestern University professor who was sentenced to decades in prison for killing a boyfriend has been overturned because he was not allowed to consult with his trial lawyer during an overnight recess. An Illinois Appeals Court...
Janusz Walus, killer of South Africa's anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, to be deported to Poland
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Janusz Walus, the convicted killer of South Africa's anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, will be deported to his home country of Poland after his parole came to an end this week, the government announced on Friday. Hani, who was the leader of the African National...
Woman who conspired to kill her 2 children can be tried in the death of her estranged husband
PHOENIX (AP) — A woman convicted of conspiring to kill her two youngest children and another woman was found competent on Thursday to stand trial on additional charges. Two court-appointed doctors in Arizona deemed Lori Vallow Daybell fit to face charges of conspiring to kill her...
California shorted prisoners on money for their release. It’s ending the practice
California prisons are no longer withholding money they are supposed to give people at the time of their release, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation memo obtained by CalMatters. The policy change is meant to ensure that thousands of people leaving...
Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder when he couldn't drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Megan Imirowicz, now 21, was...
Japanese court convicts Australian who says she was tricked into smuggling drugs
CHIBA, Japan (AP) — A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced an Australian woman to six years in prison for smuggling amphetamines into the country, despite accepting her testimony that she was tricked as part of an online romance scam. The Chiba District Court said it found Donna...
13 women convicted in Cambodia of acting as pregnancy surrogates for foreigners
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Thirteen women from the Philippines have been convicted on human trafficking-related charges for acting as surrogates in Cambodia for a ring selling babies to foreigners for cash. The women were each sentenced to four years in prison after being found...
Ex-ballerina sentenced to 20 years in Florida for manslaughter in husband's killing
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida ballerina has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following her manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting her estranged husband in 2020. Manatee County court records show Circuit Judge Matt Whyte imposed the sentence Tuesday on Ashley...
NGOs demand investigation into the prison death of a Cuban protester
HAVANA (AP) — Non-governmental organizations monitoring Cuban prisons demanded an investigation Tuesday into the death of a man imprisoned since 2021 after being arrested for participating in historic protests against shortages and blackouts. Authorities say 29-year-old Manuel de...
