General Chat

No Lucia, That is not what I meant. It is not only the cost factor, but the fact that the criminal must never be allowed back into Society. As long as they are imprisoned there is always the risk of escape. Peter, If we have Laws we must of necessity have Judges to try the case. We have a system where a Jury of ordinary people determine Guilt or Innocence, but the Judge then passes the sentence.

oops sorry Jim, I understand your argument now. Lucia

although they are not necessarily insane, psychotic maybe, but in my eyes they are different. It depends if they are awarded the defence of insanity. it depends on which definition of insane you use, the medical or the legal, the legal, still says that people with one kind of diabetes are insane so if they commit a crime becasue they need an insulin injection they are held liable, many of these individuals choose to plead quilty rather than face a mentl asylem. it's totally unfair

Lucia - you may find the following interesting. It's a quote from the autobiography of Albert Pierrepoint (Britain's last hangman) written in 1974: 'I operated on behalf of the state, what I am convinced was the most humane and the most dignified method of meting out death to a delinquent - however justified or unjustified the allotment of death may be - and on behalf of humanity I trained other nations to adopt the British system of execution... I do not now believe that any one of the hundreds of executions I carried out has in any way acted as a deterrent against future murder. Capital punishment, in my view, achieved nothing except revenge.' I have always been against capital punishment.

What about the families of victims of of these crimes why shouldnt they have a means of closeure, they have a life sentance with out parole through no fault of their own, all to often the perpetrator of such crimes are let out to do it again, i want my loved ones to be safe from these people be they just evil or insane life inprisonment means nothing these days you are let out after eight years or some doctor pronounces you sane and you are let out to kill again the very next day as just happend, why should the safety of the community at large be compromised for the sake of these individuals as it is said in the bible an eye for an eye, i say HANG THEM HIGH This is my oppion and i am entitled to it TINA

Haven't we seen with 11/9 that death is no deterrent? Why should capital punishment be any different? Of course I am completely against captial punishment, but it seems even more pointless for 'terrorists'.

A tricky and evocative subject, if someone is proven to have killed and the evidence is irrifutable then they should be executed. Having said that the Medieval Welsh Courts had something like 10 different levels of Murder with a different judicial response to each charge, this sounds more sensible to me. And before anyone says anything, I believe that Women should have the same rights extended to them as men in cases of murder, I know there's some right a---h---s out there who deserve everthing they get Len

If you destroy people who you think are unfit to live you are merely stating that it is ok to get rid of people under some circumstances, which is exactly what murderers (talking premediated here) do. The only difference is that in capital punishment cases the law decided and in individual murders the murderer decides. And I am just reading a book about Stalin at the moment - he murdered about 20 million people, including at least FOUR MILLION CHILDREN under the authority of 'the State'. As to DNA testing - sure, the tests are infallible, but how do you know the evidence wasn't planted? nell not trying to be awkward, just raising points which disturb my conscience. I have never been and hope I never will be on jury service.

One other point about the increase in murders - I posted recently about an article on poisoning in mid-Victorian England. It said that many murders probably went undetected because poison symptoms were similar to many illnesses and doctors weren't as well trained or knowledgable as they are today. Death certs of the time are quite vague compared with nowadays. It was also stated that 61% of fatal poisonings in the 1850s were of children, and that many unwanted children were killed. The notorious 'baby-farmers' were in operation right up to the beginning of the 20th century and although there was a famous case in which 2 women were hanged, it was probably just the ones who were caught - the practice was widespread when access to contraception and abortion was limited and in most cases illegal. nell

Hi Lucia, I am totally opposed to the death penalty. I have yet to see any evidence that it is an effective deterrent. Saying it is a deterrent doesn't actually make it so. The 'worst' murders are often committed by those who are derranged or unstable so they wouldn't be put to death anyway. Killing terrorists creates martyrs and doesn't deter any others. People will always be prepared to die for a cause they believe in. However, I do believe that in most cases, especially psychopaths and paedophiles who are 'incurable' a life sentence should mean just that. Gwynne

I don't believe in capital punishment. Human beings do not have the right to take life. There have been enough wrongful convictions to prove that the law is not always right. I would be horrified if our country introduced it as punishment.

It would be interesting to know the age of those whose views have been aired. I'm 68 and I do believe we should have a death penalty, for instance,what right has the Soham killer to live, paid for in part by the parents of the victims. Some of the views aired did not sound convincing. Lets be honest, if you knew you would be executed for committing murder, terrorist act, rape (as per some US states), would you? Derek in France

Well, as statistics show that rates of those crimes are continually on the increase in US states that have the death penalty - I suppose the answer has to be 'yes'.

I just dug up an essay I wrote on Capital Punishment - I'm really interested in this subject lol I believe that is unethical for Capital Punishment to be used as a means of gratifying revenge. I did a bit of research and read about some cases in which people have been executed in the past on the grounds of race (in the southern united states). I also found that perhaps many heinous criminals have ended up scot-free because they can afford a top class lawyer to represent them, whereas poor criminals (who might not be as bad) have been executed. Anyway, wouldn't a death penalty make the victims feel worse because of the stress of the trial? I think Capital Punishment is excessive and is a backward practice that we shouldn't see in a civilised world. Capital Punishment is itself a state-sanctioned pre-meditated killing. Does anyone agree? Lucia :-)

Hi Lucia, I agree with you I am also opposed to Capitol Punishment and many reasons why I disagree is for the same reasons as many others have said here. Sheila that quote from Britain's last hangman says it all, I think. We should not get confused with Capitol punishment and sentences not been suitable for the crimes, they are completely different issues. Pat x

Hi Pat, nice to see you :-) That's a good point. I've made a note of Sheila's quote - I find it quite interesting, Lucia :-)

Hello Lucia, Very interesting thread, I always enjoy these types of discussions and it really nice people of different opinions can get their views across. You have a great gift for asking interesting questions, i hope you never change. See ya soon X Love Pat x

ime usually open minded,about this subject,but over the weekend,i read the court transcripts of the..victoria climbie case...a nine year old,who spent the winter,sleeping in a bath,covered only by a plastic bin liner,she also had 128 injuries to her body,mostly cigarette burns...her aunt,and her aunts boyfriend,were found guilty of murder,and given life sentences...i say,they should not be allowed to live,and breath the same air,as you and i. bryan.

I asked a question a while back but no one answered, I was wondering if capital punishment was re-introduced for terrorists if this would encourage terrorist organisations to train younger people as they would not get the death penalty..hope that makes sense lol I agree that what Victoria Climbe's aunt did was horrible but I still don't think it deserves a death sentence. Lucia :-)

i think they already recruit young people, especially the suicide bombers, many of them have been young men. It's always the young and impressionable that are at risk to such organisations, the younger they can get you the better in thier eyes. It's effectivly brain washing similar to the Hitler youth in my opinion. So i don't know if it would make a difference as they do it already.