Re: Capital punishment
 

I see where your coming from there, but such change requires time..yet we could bring alcatraz back... that system worked well put them on a island...or in space on a Brig.

Re: Capital punishment
 

Quick quiz:

Are most murders in the UK:

1) domestic in nature
2) the result of criminal fraternity gun culture

Answers on a folded copy of the Daily Mail front page.

Re: Capital punishment
 

I think answer 1

Re: Capital punishment
 

Haven't got access to that at the mo, presumably there was a front page story on just that today :dozey:

However traditionally a large proportion of victims do know their killers and domestic situations will form a large proportion of that. Indeed domestic crime as a whole is a serious issue. I'm not sure sentencing policy would have that much impact as a deterrent, as I'm not sure that the aggressor in domestics are ever concerned by the consequences of their actions even on their "loved one" let alone the risks of being locked up.

On the other hand the gun culture and similar criminal behaviour often stems from a perception that reward can come from violence, be it just simple kudos with peers, or financial from sales and the like. If sentencing penalties are harsh then the risks might outweigh the rewards providing a true deterrent.

Re: Capital punishment
 

Has to be no as there have been too many cases of folk being fitted up and mistaken identity.If the death sentence had been passed these people would have been dead and there would be no way of rectifying that.Bad enough that they lose their freedom for long periods of time but at least there is a chance that they can get justice eventually. :(

Re: Capital punishment
 

I agree.

Re: Capital punishment
 

I've only recently changed my mind on this topic. I think there is a need now for the death penalty, providing the defendant is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt and the jury is unanimous. Certainly, it should apply with the murder of police officers, multiple murders and terrorist acts.

Re: Capital punishment
 

I would be interested to know if skuk4u would have had the women found guilty of smothering their babies (more than one so technichally 'serial killers') put to death. Also what would he have done with Barry George and Michael Stone? Cast iron convictions? Happy to send them to the gallows?

Just wondering like.

Re: Capital punishment
 

Well in the case of the Birmingham 6 and the Guildford 4 it was proved beyond a doubt originally that they were guilty.IF the death sentence had been still on the statute then 10 innocent poeple could have been executed. :(

Re: Capital punishment
 

That would be the majority of cases then ... For a start, beyond reasonable doubt is the standard that all criminal cases have to pass. You can't convict someone otherwise. As for jury unanimity, I have no statistics on that, but I know that judges do not accept majority verdicts unless jury deliberations have failed to produce a verdict after an extended period.

I wonder whether the Guildford Four were unanimously convicted? Or the Birmingham Six? I mean, they were Irish, weren't they? They were in the IRA whether we could prove it or not, they were definitely up to no good. No need for the well-meaning jury to know the confessions were beaten out of them, or forged, eh?

I wonder whether Angela Cannings was unanimously convicted of murdering two of her babies thanks to the dodgy evidence of that arrogant ar$e of an 'expert' witness, Roy Meadow? I would have thought multiple murderers would be prime candidates for the hemp fandango, were we to return to such barbarism.

Re: Capital punishment
 

Only on the radio today do I hear that the only bloke to be imprisoned following the Omagh bombing has had that conviction ruled as "unsafe". Sky News Linky The higher profile cases, involving terrorism, serial killings, police officers etc, are potentially the ones were errors may be made and overlooked precisely because of the emotions surrounding the issue.

Criminal law has always required proof beyond reasonable doubt, which is why it's often hard to gain convictions in the first place. That requirement hasn't prevented miscarriages of justice, in the past and has no guarantee that it can do so in the future.

Re: Capital punishment
 

In criminal cases we employ the jury system, providing the jury weighs the evidence listens to the judge's advice; clearly, I cannot comment on individual cases relating to manslaughter, but I stress that beyond reasonable doubt is what we would be looking for.

Frankly, I will never be in a position to enact this, I know I shall be seen as some kind of hideous monster, some kind of illiterate nutter, or choose whatever you like. But for almost my whole life I felt the death penalty was wrong, local case, Hanratty made me feel certain the innocent could die, there have of course been others, but now we know now that there is sufficient evidence to show Hanratty was guilty in 1962 for the so called A6 murder case.


:rolleyes:

Re: Capital punishment
 

"Hard cases make bad law".

Re: Capital punishment
 

I think with the likes of Ian Huntley and Peter Sutcliffe etc. I am strongly in favour of capital punishment.

There were plenty of 'do gooders' trying to get Myra Hindley out of prison and WHY ?? There is still the body of Keith Bennet to be found !
How much of taxpayers money does it cost to keep these serial killers in prison.
With today's forensic science and DNA I'm sure there is less room for miscarriages of justice.

Re: Capital punishment
 

Can you pop me down as a murder only for this one.