OT - Capital Punishment Yes or No

[bhaexpress]

Just been watching a documentry on the subject of Capital Punishment. I was wondering what others thought about it.

Now, theory it does seem 'Cruel and Unusual' as the Americans put it but is is really ? It's dreadful that in the US somebody can be on death row for many years before finally being executed. But there again, many of these people are subject to the US's far more rudimeetary legal aid system and therefore don't often get very good representation at their trials.

Okay, there's been more than one miscarriage of justice in this country. There's a lot of doubt about James Hanratty, the last man to be executed in this country not to mention Derek Bentley and of course Timmothy Evans.

Still, having said that how ould you feel if one of your nearest and dearest was murdered in cold blood ?

 

[Dave the OAP]

There is no reason whatsoever that gives the state the right to take someones life.

One could argue that having a standing army does just this, but there you are.

BTW really sorry about Monday mate

 

[Albion Dan]

NO. There are far too many f*** ups by the Police and even the possibillity that one person could be killed by mistake should make it never happen.

 

[bhaexpress]

I might add that judging by the conditions in the bigger American Prisons you wonder if a death sentence is preferrable.

Anybody here watch 'Oz' ? (Not the Wizard of).

 

[cdavis]

I understand it costs about £2000.00 a week to keep a person in prison.Execute the murderer and spend the money on more deserving causes.......i.e.; children suffering with cancer. Harsh....?.......maybe, but to kill and then cost the underfunded good causes anything up tp £2,000,000.00 over 20 years............disgusting.!!!!

 

[cdavis]

To Albion Dan;.....ther,s rarely a "f*** up" by police....it,s usually down to smart lawyers.

 

[looney]

Yes if it was britbyte being fried

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

No.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

A few years ago I would have said a definate YES. Nowadays I'm not so sure as I believe that the system in this country is corrupt as well as the people in it. The principle of a fair trial and true untampered evidence is long dead.

I now err on the NO side. That said I believe that Saddam should be tried and executed ( if found guilty of a capital crime ) and the bloke they believe cut the throats of the Westeners in Iraq. Double standards ? possibly but the subject matter hardly inspires a clear cut yes or no.

 

[bhaexpress]

Yes if it was britbyte being fried

That's fine but I'd want you to hold my hand (as would many others).

 

[pasty]

Never.

Death penalty = Legalised murder

One of the most pathetic pro-death penalty arguments I ever heard was "No man has the right to take another man's life"

Errrr........?