Assessing the Death Penalty

Having read many interesting submissions concerning the rights and wrongs of the death penalty, I believe I have now come up with another interesting option. For the truly depraved, cruel and inhumane acts for which the death penalty is warranted, why not give the deserving culprit the best of both worlds? How about this for an example:

The Port Arthur massacre of 1996 in Tasmania, Australia was the most horrific and mindless act of murder for which Martin Bryant was convicted after being literally caught in the act. This animal shot down man, women and children. He walked calmly into a packed caf and opened fire, killing at least 20 in that location before walking outside to continue. Nowhere was safe, he stalked a number of his terrified victims that tried in vain to hide, this included little children

If anyone can suggest a better candidate for the death penalty, please go ahead. The fact is this animal was given a life sentence so what! He lives and will have rights’ and of course privileges’ as well as three meals a day in air-conditioned accommodation for the rest of his life.

Many argue that death is too quick and the man should suffer could not agree more, so why not give it both barrels? Sentence the man to death, sentence to be carried out after a life sentence of 25 years is complete. Wow a bit harsh you say? What about the children who will never experience life thanks to his murderous act? He has 25 years to think about what is going to happen to him, he knows there is no release and he will suffer greatly for the crimes committed.

The risk of putting an innocent person to death is greatly reduced with such a system of justice. 25 years is time to prove innocence and given the new developments in DNA evidence, who knows what new methods will be available 25 years from now that will prove conclusively guilt or innocence.

Saddam Hussein sitting in a cell for 25 years well, it is doubtful he would be alive at the end of such a sentence however it is sure that he would have suffered more for the crimes for which he was convicted than the quick and merciful execution carried out.