04-21-2008, 06:12 AM
This case shows why I'm against the death penalty for most cases.
I'm for the death penalty if there is compelling camera or DNA evidence. But how are you sure the footage is not doctored or the lab made no mistake?
In recent years, we've seen how tenuous are death penalties that are based mainly on the testimony of witnesses as opposed to forensic evidence. Witnesses have poor memories and often have some motivation to falsely accuse.
But, whenever someone rapes and/or murders a child, or tortures someone til they die, or talks during a movie, I feel YES they should die, die a long slow painful death, if we really really know who did it. "The body was buried in your backyard, with your DNA in it, and we found a shovel with matching dirt and your fingerprints." -- THAT type of sure.
But there again, sometimes there seems to be a really low threshold for "we really really know" who did it. The Nancy Grace syndrome: it's the husband, or boyfriend, it always is. She was ready to fry the fiance of that Runaway Bride, and to fry those Duke guys (well we all were for the Duke case, right?). Too many of us are Nancy Graces.
-V
Improprietor
The Forsaken Inn
"Justice of the Peace Available Weekends"
I'm for the death penalty if there is compelling camera or DNA evidence. But how are you sure the footage is not doctored or the lab made no mistake?
In recent years, we've seen how tenuous are death penalties that are based mainly on the testimony of witnesses as opposed to forensic evidence. Witnesses have poor memories and often have some motivation to falsely accuse.
But, whenever someone rapes and/or murders a child, or tortures someone til they die, or talks during a movie, I feel YES they should die, die a long slow painful death, if we really really know who did it. "The body was buried in your backyard, with your DNA in it, and we found a shovel with matching dirt and your fingerprints." -- THAT type of sure.
But there again, sometimes there seems to be a really low threshold for "we really really know" who did it. The Nancy Grace syndrome: it's the husband, or boyfriend, it always is. She was ready to fry the fiance of that Runaway Bride, and to fry those Duke guys (well we all were for the Duke case, right?). Too many of us are Nancy Graces.
-V
Improprietor
The Forsaken Inn
"Justice of the Peace Available Weekends"