Fourth execution in the USA: Stanko makes his choice

Fourth execution in the USA: Stanko makes his choice

This week, several executions in the USA are causing a stir. A total of four men convicted of murder have lost their lives in recent days. A particularly serious case is that of Stephen Stanko, a 57-year-old who was executed on Friday in South Carolina. Stanko was charged with the murder of his friend Henry Turner (74 years old) and his partner Laura Ling (43 years old) in 2005. He was also found guilty of raping and attempting to kill Laura Ling's daughter.

The execution took place by injection at the Columbia Penitentiary. Stanko had a choice of different forms of execution, but chose lethal injection. This decision is significant in the current context, as a total of 23 executions have taken place in the United States since the beginning of the year. The majority of these executions were carried out by injection, followed by three cases where nitrogen inhalation was used as a method and two executions carried out by firing squad. The latter was a method that was last used in the USA in 2010.

The current statistics

A look at the statistics shows that a significant number of death sentences have been imposed in the USA since 1976. The state of Texas leads the list with 586 executions, followed by Oklahoma with 123 and Virginia with 113. There was also an increase in executions in 2023, with a total of 24 executions, marking the highest level since 2018. Compared to around 1,150 death sentences handed down worldwide, although the exact numbers are often concealed, the USA shows a special position as it is the only liberal democracy that uses the death penalty. The most common method is lethal injection, but this does not always guarantee a painless death.

There have already been 23 executions this year, with the majority, 18, carried out by injection. Three executions were carried out by nitrogen inhalation in Alabama and Louisiana, and two more by firing squad in South Carolina. This development raises questions about the humanitarian and legal legitimacy of the death penalty.

Public opinion

Public attitudes toward the death penalty in the United States are divided, but an October 2023 poll shows that 53 percent of citizens support the death penalty for convicted murderers. Despite a slight trend towards a decline in approval, the death penalty remains a controversial issue. In Germany, on the other hand, the population has a clear stance: around two thirds reject the death penalty. Only 17 percent are in favor of it, with a majority of 43 percent among AfD supporters.

The continued use of the death penalty in the USA is caught between legal practicality and moral concerns. Is it time to consider fundamental reform? The debate about the death penalty will certainly remain a hot topic in the future.

24 hours reports that in addition to the ongoing executions, 23 of the 50 states have already abolished the death penalty or have proceedings suspended. The methodology and number of executions paint a complex picture in a society grappling with the question of justice.

For detailed information on executions in the USA you can also visit the data peinedemort.org and statista.com see.