I absolutely agree with all those individuals who oppose the Death Penalty for any reasons whatsoever. Can we ever be 100% sure, the State is executing the guilty man? I must declare herein, I'm very much at odds with most of my former colleagues who vehemently seek to have capital punishment, re-introduced to our statutes.

Yet I've seen some awful crimes against the person, none worse then Alan BAKER & Kevin CRUMP who brutally tortured, raped and murdered Mrs Virginia MORSE of Moree, back in the day. I was a junior copper back then, but the emotions among those police who investigated her killing when the two were ultimately caught ran so high, one of the senior detectives had to be restrained from drawing his gun and summarily shooting the pair. It's my understanding they're still in maximum security gaol. These two individuals are evil personified.

As was another abomination of a human being (I was the case officer on this matter) - Archie Beattie McCAFFERTY. Those who're interested can look him up on the Internet. By the way, some say police don't earn their salary - well, spend a few hours with these killers, and try to get to sleep the following night, it should read - 'nights'. The sheer terror and dread of McCAFFERTY'S crimes would make an excellent horror movie.

With all the above, I still do not support the death penalty. Lock 'em up and throw away the key. I've heard all the economic arguments, the costs associated with feeding, housing and supporting prisoners for years upon years. Incarceration is a far superior punishment. And for the worst of the worst, the knowledge they'll never be released into a free society ever again; is sufficient in my personal opinion.

Hi o sung wu, I would agree with you if in fact we did throw away the key. However mostly some do good parole board usually decides it is humane to let them out after 15 years or so, & to hell with who might be hurt.

When you hear of some rapist murderer being convicted of a repeat offense I can only believe that what ever parole board let these people out should be convicted of crimes against humanity & locked up with the murderer. I have no interest in rehabilitation of murderers or criminals, only in protecting the community from them. Put them down, or lock them up for extended to life periods is the only way to do that.

Oh & we should get psychologists & psychiatrists out of prisons, these fools are too easily conned by inmates as they want to believe their ministrations have been effective, though they never are.

Dear Paul,

I feel divided on this issue.

On the one hand, I do not approve of the concept of man punishing his/her fellow, thus adding violence to violence. Justice is a matter for God and should be left there alone, where it is carried with absolute precision.

On the other hand, given that man already does so and inflicts even more pain and horrific suffering on others by way of prison, which is even more cruel, so long as that is the case, then possibly giving the offender a quick death would reduce that suffering.

«History shows that more innocent people have been executed in the name of justice than actual serious offenders»

Yet also so many innocent people languish in jail, some for decades before being found innocent. Being killed instead would grant them a ticket out of jail and a quick new start.

It is a worry, in the US there is even an organisation that studies
convicted cases finds one with doubt and then undertakes a study and
has had a number of convictions overturned.
As against that is the Islamic murderer that spent years in a UK gaol
convinced the psychologists that he had reformed after many years
and a week or two after released murdered a woman on London bridge
probably because she was dressed immodestly.
Can't remember the exact details but it is a well know case if you
want to look it up.
When it comes to Islamic murderers I think different rules should apply.

G'day HASBEEN...

I hope you and yours are all well. Mate, it's very hard to argue with you on most elements of your post. Essentially I agree with everything you say. It's true, the academics seem intent to cause an early release of a criminal despite the comments of the presiding jurist at the individuals trial and subsequent sentencing.

The only departure to that, was BAKER & CRUMP. Parole authorities began earnest murmurings about the possibility of supervised release, on strict parole conditions for these two maggots. The NSW Govt. of the day got wind of it, and very quickly legislated a special Act of Parliament ensuring they remain in gaol for the public good.

Interestingly, at their trial & subsequent conviction, the presiding Justice, in his 'Ratio Decidendi' said, in part, they should never be released. It is they, the original trial Justice, who is in possession of all the relevant facts. Not a parole or probation officer reading their file in the comfort of a nice AirCon. office some place, years after the crime was committed.

Don't get me wrong. A well trained Parole/Probation Officer is worth his/her weight in gold. But sometimes they allow their hearts to rule their mind and common sense.

Being executed does not guarantee a person a fresh start. Death is oblivion. It is the end of everything for that person. It is the end for the organism whatever species the organism is part of. Some people have a belief in superstitions which soothe their fear of death by creating a fiction that there is something for them after death. Death is the end for humans, cats and cockroaches. We can make of our life what we can. Our end is final.