pass the death sentence on〜

Japan Todayから英語表現を拾います。　山口県光市の母子殺害事件で、3月に死刑が確定した元会社員大月（旧姓・福田）孝行死刑囚は10月29日、広島高裁に再審請求しました。

The high-profile case also generated a debate in Japan on how to deal with violent juvenile criminals and whether they should be named by the media.

Otsuki, who is now 31, was found guilty in 2000 and initially jailed for life by a district court, with judges citing the fact that he was a juvenile—deemed as anyone below 20 under the Juvenile Act—for their leniency.

The sentence was upheld by the Hiroshima High Court in 2002 following an appeal by the prosecution.

The decisions led Motomura to tell media that he would wait for Otsuki’s release and kill him.

However, following a long campaign by Motomura, the case was finally heard in 2006 by the Supreme Court, which asked the high court to review the sentence. It said the original court decision failed to offer clear rationale to avoid the death penalty.

Two years later the high court changed its decision and passed the death sentence on Otsuki.

 http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/man-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-mother-baby-daughter-in-1999-seeks-retrial

sentenceは「文」という意味はもちろん、「宣告、判決、刑、処罰」という意味もあるのはみなさんご存じとは思います。そこからpass [pronounce、give]a sentence  death on〜は「〜に死刑宣告をする」という意味(『ジーニアス英和辞典』第4版、大修館書店)になります。なお、「死刑宣告」という名詞形だと"death sentence"となります。(『スーパーアンカー和英辞典』第2版、研究社)。ちなみに　　「破産宣告」もdeath sentenceと表現することは注意して覚えたいと思います。と書いても、みなさんご存じのことだと思います。以上、確認程度であります。(EnDough)