The murder of Ayeeshia Jane Smith

[Highlander]

Without going over the whole for and against argument on the issue, can members give me their reason(s) as to why they would oppose the sanction of the death penalty in this case.

[Colwyn]

I don't believe the state has the right to take the life of its citizens unless those citizens pose a real and present danger to life.

[Highlander]

Thank you Colwyn.

Self evidently these citizens did not have the right to take the life of a defenseless twenty-one month old child.

[Colwyn]

Absolutely.

[steveb1]

my first thought is hang her but then I think would any mother of sound mind do that ?

[Highlander]

Sorry I forgot to put the link in my original post

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-35998417?post_id=10153081077898445_10153764976258445

[Highlander]

my first thought is hang her but then I think would any mother of sound mind do that ?

She was sound enough of mind to change her story several times. 

[Anne]

Hanging is too good for her in my opinion.
Put her in a room full of mothers and let them stamp on her as she did to her daughter.  I would gladly go first!
There is NO excuse for raising your hand to a child

[Stuart T]

In essence, I am against capital punishment - especially so in the case of someone who is undoubtedly mentally unstable.

However, I am wholly for life imprisonment meaning just that. No release - ever.

Both these people should receive life imprisonment.

I'm sure that public opinion will be swayed by this case, as it would be if a poll were taken after hanging a person later found to be innocent.

Our prison sentences, however, should be upheld to the length of time the judge determines.

Career criminals who carry arms to rob people are not put off by our sentences. It is entirely possible that these type of people may be deterred from shooting others if the death sentence was in place.

This is so,so difficult. Murder is murder - but  there are also "crimes of passion" and "fits of jealous rage" which to me are different to cold blooded, premeditated killing for profit.

In this case, he is (in my eyes) every bit as guilty as her. Life for both with no parole - ever.

 

[Colwyn]

In essence, I am against capital punishment ... However, I am wholly for life imprisonment meaning just that. No release - ever.

I agree with that. Not because I think society is protected by keeping killers in gaol until they are 87 years old (or whatever) but because it is an important social contract that those of us who are against capital punishment should make with the those (probably the majority) who are in favour of it.