Death penalty Coverage

All assets associated with the tag: death penalty

Civil rights attorney questions what role race played in death penalty conviction of Johnston County man

Esteemed civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson took the stand in a Johnston County trial that could have implications for more than 100 inmates on death row.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

Civil rights attorney questions what role race played in death penalty conviction of Johnston County man

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, March 6, 2024

Some said racism led to a man's death penalty conviction in Johnston County. Court proceedings continue in Smithfield on March 6.

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, March 5, 2024

Historians, researchers and experts on race and the justice system testify in the appeal of a Johnston County murder case.

Hasson Bacote trial continues Tuesday, experts testify that race played a role in his conviction

The Racial Justice Act hearing of Hasson Bacote continues this week in Johnston County. Bacote is arguing that past indications of racism in the courtroom hurt his right to a fair trial.

WRAL staff

Hasson Bacote trial continues Tuesday, experts testify that race played a role in his conviction

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, Feb. 28, 2024

Day 3: Statements continue in the legal challenge to a Johnston County death penalty sentence, a multi-day trial that could have implications for more than 100 people on death row in the North Carolina prison system.

Jury selection expert testified to race as "statistically significant factor" in Johnston County death sentence

Hasson Bacote's attorneys are trying to prove that Black people were unfairly excluded from the jury that heard his 2009 murder case. Bacote faces the death penalty, convicted in the 2007 murder of a man during a robbery in Johnston County.

WRAL Staff

Jury selection expert testified to race as "statistically significant factor" in Johnston County death sentence

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, Feb. 27, 2024

Day 2: Statements continue in the legal challenge to a Johnston County death penalty sentence, a multi-day trial that could have implications for more than 100 people on death row in the North Carolina prison system.

Johnston County death penalty challenge argues race played a role, could have ripple effect for 100s of convicts

The Racial Justice Act, a now-defunct North Carolina law, used to let death row inmates appeal on the basis of racism in their prosecution. Some appeals are still underway, including the Hasson Bacote case in Johnston County.

Chelsea Donovan and Will Doran, WRAL reporters

Johnston County death penalty challenge argues race played a role, could have ripple effect for 100s of convicts

Alabama first to use nitrogen in execution

Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife. He was the first American inmate to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia.

NC Republicans talk Mark Robinson, electability, in first gubernatorial debate

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, and political newcomer Jesse Thomas criticized Republican gubernatorial rival Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson while making their own case for governor.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

NC Republicans talk Mark Robinson, electability, in first gubernatorial debate

Legal challenges have put death penalty on hold in NC

20 people have died on death row in NC since 2006, but none of them have been executed.

North Carolina's middle ground: Death penalty is legal, but no one has been executed since 2006

North Carolina hasn't executed anyone since 2006, when lawsuits put executions here on hold.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

North Carolina's middle ground: Death penalty is legal, but no one has been executed since 2006

Murderer and rapist dies of natural cuases while on death row

Eric Lane was convicted of kidnapping and killing 5-year-old Precious Whitfield in 2005.

Protestors march in downtown Raleigh to end death row in NC

Today demonstrators marched through downtown Raleigh calling for an end to the death penalty in our state. A man who was on death row for almost two years talked about his experience and why he's advocating for change almost 30 years later

Families of homicide victims join protest against the death penalty in downtown Raleigh

A rally protesting the death penalty in downtown Raleigh on Saturday could be North Carolina's largest gathering against executions in over a decade.

Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist

Families of homicide victims join protest against the death penalty in downtown Raleigh

Fact check: Did Iran sentence 15,000 protesters to death?

Social media posts by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and multiple celebrities suggested that Iran had decided to sentence 15,000 people to death for protesting against the government regime. PolitiFact checks the claim.

Maria Ramirez Uribe, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Did Iran sentence 15,000 protesters to death?

ACLU argues to bar death qualification from capital case

Closing arguments have been made in the ACLU's motion to bar the process of death qualification from the capital murder trial of Brandon Hill. An upcoming decision from a superior court judge could change the way capital cases are conducted in North Carolina.

Decision in motion to bar death qualification could change capital cases in North Carolina

An upcoming decision from a superior court judge could change the way capital cases are conducted in North Carolina.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Decision in motion to bar death qualification could change capital cases in North Carolina

Second defendant does not admit guilt but will spend about 10 years in prison for role in Lake Gaston arson, kidnap murder

As he waited for a second trial on charges he beat and killed a Lake Gaston woman during a home invasion, Lester Kearney acknowledged that prosecutors have the evidence to convict him in that 2018 crime.