Capital Punishment.

[flobadob]

If someone is proven guilty beyond all doubt of having committed a heinous crime such as murder or child abuse, and is sentenced to life, then why not just sentence those people to death, thereby saving millions by not having to house them in jail for 20+ years?

[sandyRoe]

'Beyond all doubt' ? Society is more humane and civilised than crazy murderers

[THECORBYLOON]

Beyond all doubt may depend upon the medical or scientific knowledge at that time and as that knowledge advances, those certainties may no longer exist.

[woofgang]

Because that would not be just. Someone else might be just as guilty but more able to conceal their crime or just luckier and therefore not be executed when in fact they might have done something worse than the person you would execute.

[mikey4444]

Flobadob....there are lots of reasons but this should suffice ::::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Evans

A truly appalling miscarriage of justice.

[Old_Geezer]

For all the same reasons given the other times this question has been asked. Not least of all because society should be beyond committing such an act just to save money. It is both wrong and hypocritical to punish folk for killing someone and then do so constitutionally.

[TWR]

Don't get me started!

[mikey4444]

OG...the voice of reason !

[RATTER15]

So how does the perpetrator suffer for his crimes, nobody suffers after death, even the act of killing is humane. They should be kept alive to suffer their punishments, not given the easy way out!

[TWR]

Say that to the Childs Parent's & listen to their reply Ratters, I'm sure they would have a different view.

[ummmm]

No...you can not murder murderers. That just makes someone guilty of murder.

[jno]

there is no such thing as "beyond all doubt".

[ChillDoubt]

We've had this argument roughly 6-monthly on a regular basis.
My reasoning is that the likes of Roy Whiting, Ian Huntley, Mark Bridger et al most definitely ought to be executed. But modern society ought not carry out state murder etc blah, blah, blah, blah.
How can patients be denied life saving/prolonging medicines as a result of cost cutting measures and cutbacks, yet those who commit the most heinous crimes imaginable get 3 meals a day, roof and access to amenities etc? Centres of excellence that are pioneering treatment for children have to rely on charity, like G.O.S.H. and the like, whilst the vermin of society languish behind bars.
This is the modern era, where every government department suffers cuts year on year. Those cuts ought to include the execution of those who cannot and will not ever be rehabilitated.

As for the Timothy Evans case, sad and cruel though it was the advancements in forensic science and current Police legislation regarding the questioning of suspects mean that in this day and age he would never have even been a suspect.

[mikey4444]

America is a country where they execute their convicts with gay abandon, especially Texas. I have never understood why, in a country where millions of people are supposed to be "born again Christians" they take such pleasure in breaking one of the 10 Holy Commandments with such ease and glee themselves. Capital Punishment doesn't bring back the victim who was killed, and plainly doesn't work as a deterrent either. Pointless and vindictive exercise as far as I can see.

[Zacs-Master]

I wouldn't say it was 'pointless' as it saves the state a small fortune. That doesn't mean I agree with it.

[ChillDoubt]

Maybe they're hotter on an eye for an eye than they are the Big Ten from Moses.

[mikey4444]

But capital punishment doesn't deter future crimes, not one little bit, as can be seen from America.

[ChillDoubt]

Does any measure effectively deter such crimes in such a large country?
Probably not, but for a lot of American families the death penalty means justice, nothing less.

[Zacs-Master]

I can't see where anyone has said it does.

[mikey4444]

No Chilli, it means vengeance, which isn't the same thing at all.

Anyway, interesting and thought provoking though this debate is, there is as near to zero chance of Capital Punishment being brought back in Britain that makes no difference. It is always given a free vote by all Parties and is always roundly rejected. Its one of the few items that all Parties are united upon.