If the death penalty was brought back, someone innocent would inevitably be killed at some point
Right-wing blogger Guido Fawkes (Paul Staines) is pushing a Number 10 e-petition to reinstate the death penalty. His campaign has already gained widespread support, from Murdoch newspaper The Sun to Tory MP Philip Davies (from ‘let the disabled be exploited at below the minimum wage’ and ‘can’t we bring back blacking up’ fame). Mr Davies said:
“It’s something where once again the public are a long way ahead of the politicians. I’d go further and restore it for all murderers.”
However, a quick google search and look through the ‘Innocent‘ database finds that murder charges are fairly regularly overturned in the British Courts. People whose original conviction for murder that have been quashed include:
Andrew Adams who was convicted of murdering science teacher Jack Royal in 1990. Members of the jury later come forward to say they had considered evidence not put before the court, the police had been in contact with witnesses during the trial, and that verdicts of not guilty were returned on others involved in the case, inconsistent with Adams’ guilty verdict
Soldier Andrew Evans, who was convicted of the murder of 14-year-old Judith Roberts on the basis of a dream he experienced
Sean Hodgson, who was convicted of the murder of bar worker Theresa de Simone in 1979, and served 27 years despite David Lace confessing to the murder in 1983
Josephine Smith, whose conviction of murder for her husband was changed to manslaughter, after it was established he had repeatedly beat her and subject her to sexual abuse. Smith had originally pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Tony Martin, whose conviction of murder was reduced to manslaughter for shooting burglars who entered his home, which he had done in a ‘blind panic’
And there are dozens more. It seems odd that a libertarian such as Staines thinks that the state is incompetent to do almost anything other than decide who to kill. Under Davies’s policy, all these people would have now been killed by the state in cold blood.
Under Staines’s plan (cop-killers and child murderers would be liable for the death penalty), Andrew Evans would now have been killed.
So what price a life? Is it right that some innocent people are killed so that others receive thier comeuppance? If, as MP Priti Patel believes, deterence did work (which would imply murderers rationally weigh out risks and benefits to actions, and that a life sentence is seen as a fair risk), how many is it OK to kill to ensure that murderers are put off?
All this ‘ends justifies the means’ thinking and trading of lives feels bizarrely stalinist for conservatives and libertarians. If the death penalty is brought back, it is only a matter of time until someone is innocent is killed – an odd outcome to a campaign based on abhorrence of murder.
85 Responses to “Five good reasons why the death penalty should not be reinstated”
Leon Wolfson
It’s not “emotive words”, it’s an accurate description of a crime.
And capital punishment for child murders eh?
Timothy Evans
Sally Clark
Stefan Kiszko
Angela Cannings
The Birmingham Six (one victim was 17)
I could go on, but it’s quite evident that you don’t give a shit about lives, except when advocating taking them.
You can’t even admit it’s red handed vengeance, and has nothing to do with deterrence at all – America’s situation simply isn’t similar enough to ours to draw the lines you are, and as I said it’s utterly out of touch with the real situation, which is that crimes rates have plummeted over the last decades, and in America, in the states where the death penalty is least used.
Utterly ignoring reality.
Utterly ignoring civilisation.
Utterly condoning murder.
(And you STILL can’t get over the fact I’m an actual left-winger, can you…pathetic…typical BNPer)
SadButMadLad
Only 5 reasons? I have ten reasons why the death penalty should not be reinstated – http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/ten-reasons-to-not-have-the-death-penalty/
Anon E Mouse
Leon Wolfson – No it is capital punishment not murder. A state cannot “murder” an individual. It is a state.
And apart from the evidence shown to prove my case you have produced nothing but smears as usual.
And I certainly can understand you are a left winger – that’s why despite being a Lib Dem voter I frequent this fine blog. Nothing like some dogma to start the day with.
So we have nothing from you apart from the fact you are a danger magnet with bullets, bombs and “ambushes” from the marauding BNP gangs that frequent your local Asda (twice) – or was it some secret mission we’re not allowed to be told about?
Please don’t go anywhere Wolfy Boy. Life would be so much less colourful without your “theories” to lighten up the day…
(I’ll do the “Monster in the bushes” stuff next time)
Jacob O'Neil
Five good reasons why the death penalty should not be reinstated: http://bit.ly/r05nfE : writes @danielelton
likeyou
Five good reasons why the death penalty should not be reinstated: http://bit.ly/r05nfE : writes @danielelton