This Story Made Me Feel Sick To My Stomach.

[Jeza]

I know there are people who will say 'serves him right' but ino this is so wrong.

http://news.sky.com/story/1252055/killer-writhed-in-pain-in-botched-execution

[emmie]

in war time, if someone is trying to kill you, or a member of your family, you had a gun, would you not defend yourself and them, i know i would,
and i don't feel any different in peace time, perhaps in the cold light of day know one knows what you might do, but defend myself, yes i would, and my loved ones

[andy-hughes]

emmie - "in war time, if someone is trying to kill you, or a member of your family, you had a gun, would you not defend yourself and them, i know i would,
and i don't feel any different in peace time, perhaps in the cold light of day know one knows what you might do, but defend myself, yes i would, and my loved ones"

Defend myself and my family against attack? of course I would, no question.

But that is not the situation we are debating is it?

Watch while their murderer is murdered in cold blood in front of me, or be willing to accept that it is done outwith my prescence?

No, never. It is me who has to carry on living with myself, and revenge is a slow killer all of its own.

[royfromaus]

So is grief, andy...so is grief!

[andy-hughes]

royfromaus - "So is grief, andy...so is grief!"

I disagree. Grief is an integral part of the human condition. If you love and care for anyone or anything, there is grief at the end of it, that is the pact you enter into when you love - and people deal with it as they can.

Revenge is a choice, you do not have to endure it, you can choose not to feel it, to put it aside, and to feel better for doing so.

Revenge is the cornerstone of the capital punishment system - to say other is to be naiive, and it cheapens and demeans and hurts us all, unless we push it away and agree not to play along.

[emmie]

state sanctioned killing, then make it quick.

[lady-janine]

revenge for something like this surely would give more closure than a few years in prison and then release for the perpetrator.

[andy-hughes]

State sanctioned killing - it's wrong - don't do it!

[emmie]

we don't, and quite frankly i don't care, the scum should have been locked up for good.

[Jeza]

Been away from the site but I'm back to add my two pennyworth.

Not a child but my son was killed by another man. Did I want the death penalty for him, a resounding NO. I wanted him punished yes but I did not want revenge I just wanted justice.

[murraymints]

sorry to hear that jeza x

[2sp_]

Jeza, I'm so sorry to hear that your son died.

Can I be personal and ask if you did get justice? Please feel free to tell me to mind my own if that's too painful a question. xx

[Jeza]

It is a few years ago now 2sp. It is still painful but you learn to live with it. The man got life imprison.

[andy-hughes]

Jeza, I am so sorry for your loss.

This gives you a unique insight into this debate that none of us have - and you will know the initial feelings of rage and desire for revenge that are entirely natural, and personal to you.

I note that you did not want revenge, which is what execution is - but justice, which is the man in prison for life - and I hope it has made your loss just a little easier to weave into the fabric of your life.

[royfromaus]

Can you explain how you think 'revenge' is a slow killers and 'grief' isn't andy?

[2sp_]

I'm glad (if that's the right word) that the man responsible has been imprisoned, Jeza. I can't begin to imagine how you must feel.

[andy-hughes]

royfromaus - I thought I already had - please refer to my reply to your post.

To sum up - grief occurs for everyone sooner or later - revenge does not.

Grief is something we can learn to assimilate because we cannot avoid it, so we have to deal with it.

Revenge is a matter of choice - a moral stance which you can accept or reject, but if you clutch revenge to your heart it will eat you through to the other side.

[anneasquith]

does life sentence always mean life in prison ?

[pixie373]

I'm so sorry, jeza, i didn't know the circumstances for you.
Roy, the killer is now dead and not suffering in any way. Those that will be, are his own family, witnesses and the teenager's family. I wonder whether this has made them feel better. To me, i think i would feel even worse. Self-defence is completely different and is to potentially change the outcome.
I just think this now is punishing everyone except the killer.

[murraymints]

it can be an all of life term,but usually 25 years or thereabouts I think

[stewey]

I haven't read all the posts; and I quickly read the article; and I have a completely knee-jerk reaction; and some people will emphasize the word "jerk"; and I have absolutely not one iota of sympathy for this person who watched at least one other person being burned alive.