Question Author
Duncer, how on earth do you know that?
Victims of rape often feel guilt and shame, that somehow they were to blame. That is what rapists can do - shift the burden of guilt to the victim.
As unpalatable as it might be, rarely a rape victim has conflicting feelings for the rapist, especially if he (or she) has known the attacker for a long time - a relative or family friend, perhaps. Hates the act, hates the attacker for the attack but still has fond and loving memories.
In these circumstances a victim could suffer even more if the attacker was sentenced to death. It is impossible to explain in depth on a forum. An example is a child who loves his mother even though she regularly gets drunk and beats him, sometimes severely. I've seen this often, and the distress a child suffers by being removed from the parent.
At the other extreme, a victim might feel a burning rage that the attacker has escaped by being sentenced to death, and a lifetime living with the knowledge of what he (or she) has done is a far better punishment.
It is a fact that bitterness and hatred is all consuming and destroys. Ending up in prison for exacting revenge causes more suffering for the loved ones, surely?