[SlackDad]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Hence why in Saudi their maturity is judged (not just their physical maturity), notice all those mentioned are over 13? Notice also that the article doesn't mention that 125 committed murder at 17, one did it at 13?
It also doesn't mention the cases where as you say, the courts deemed that the action by the accused was justified, or recieved a custodial rather than capital sentance.

And who is judging the maturity level?

Personally I agree that the death penatly shouldn't be used for the reasons I've already stated.
So how about life inprisonment instead?
Why should a 15 year old who beats another teenager to death because he didn't like the look of them (a case I know about) not get the same sentance as someone aged 30 doing the same thing, if both are deemed mature enough to know what they did was wrong and the consiquences?

They may well for all I know. My objection was with the death penalty for children not punishment per se.

Yes, and while in Saudi they draw the line at the accused's actual level of maturity, we use an arbitary age where many criminals under that age are as aware of their wrong doings, as someone over that age, but get lighter sentances because of it.

Again you make no mention of how this 'actual level of maturity' is measured, which could possibly be even more arbitrary than a standard age. The standard age as we have in this country is, I would have thought, guided by cultural norms and standards. This does not mean to say it is an infallible system however.