Time To End The Death Penalty On America?

[ichkeria]

For some reason I thought most Americans supported it but it seems not.

The president elect has vowed to try to end it officially and from this it would appear that the current administration thinks he has a good chance of success.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55236260

[Jackdaw33]

Since the mid-19th century no-one has been executed for crimes other than murder or treason.

[emmie]

we aren't going to agree on this.

[Jackdaw33]

Before Ruth Ellis in 1955 two other women were hanged: Louisa Merrifield in 1953 and Stellou Cristofi in 1954. They were both middle-aged women and not as glamorous as Ellis.

[emmie]

anyway this is about what happens in USA, not here anymore.

[TrevorThePug]

Alfred Bourgeois, a 56-year-old Louisiana truck driver, is set to die Friday for killing his 2-year-old daughter by repeatedly slamming her head into a truck’s windows and dashboard. Bourgeois’ lawyers alleged he was intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty, but several courts said evidence didn’t support that claim.

He has been on death row for 17 years and will be executed later today.

[TrevorThePug]

Trump is certainly speeding up the execution conveyor belt after ending the 17 year hiatus on federal executions in July 2020. Wonder why he waited until his last year.

[andy-hughes]

Trevor - // Wonder why he waited until his last year.//

Because he is, and always has been, a nasty thin-skinned egomaniac who can't cope with rejection, and needs to take his revenge wherever and whenever he is able, while he is still able.

[ichkeria]

I’m surprised none of the Trumpistas have pointed out that the President elect was a big cheerleader for the death penalty back in the day.
So in the interests of balance I will mention it :-)

[TrevorThePug]

Partly Andy Hughes, but he wants to go on record as the most prolific execution president in over 130 years - if he hits 13 he's the winner. Still not sure why he waited until this year, unless its just become about winning that title......winning.........winning........winning...

[andy-hughes]

Trevor - // Partly Andy Hughes, but he wants to go on record as the most prolific execution president in over 130 years - if he hits 13 he's the winner. Still not sure why he waited until this year, unless its just become about winning that title......winning.........winning........winning... //

I'd agree - but what does it say about a man who wants, and is striving to obtain, a record like that.

[youngmafbog]

//Partly Andy Hughes, but he wants to go on record as the most prolific execution president in over 130 years //

He told you that did he?

Or did you just make it up like most things you post?

[jno]

ymb, if he *doesn't* want to, he could always stop.

[Jackdaw33]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the use of the term 'intellectually disabled'. No doubt it will find its way into UK parlance.

[jno]

how do you feel about physically disabled?

[SparklyKid]

A life sentence in USA means just that, die in prison.

We should do the same.

I do not like the idea of 20 years on death row, then killed.

UK killers are out in a few years, some kill again.

[jno]

Deskdiary, I don't think there's ever going to be such a thing as "beyond doubt", even when you've got a confession (lots of people will confess to anything, for some reason).

For a while people were being convicted of things on DNA evidence and experts saying there was only a million in one chance that they were innocent. Until someone pointed out that this meant 60 people in the country could have done it.

It now looks rather as if Dr Crippen was innocent too, even though hanging him seemed like a triumph of justice at the time.

[Jackdaw33]

Physically disabled is clear and unequivocal, unlike intellectually disabled, which can mean anything. It is similar to 'learning difficulties'.

[Jackdaw33]

//It now looks rather as if Dr Crippen was innocent too\\

Oh, per-leeze!

[andres]

I don't care how 'intellectually disabled' he is. To kill his tiny daughter by smashing her against the truck windows and dashboard repeatedly
He deserves to die. Should have been put away years ago.

[jno]

jackdaw, they recently carried out DNA tests on what was left of the torso they found in the cellar. Surprise, surprise, it wasn't the vanished Mrs Crippen as everyone had assumed at the time. And yet, as I also suggested, even DNA evidence has to be treated with care and a head for statistics. And that's why the death penalty is wrong.