H, I phrased this badly. I was not suggesting automatic release.vI was saying that I think all cases should be judged impassionately against the conditions and criteria of the law and not upon feelings about the character of the convict (obviously vile), the opinions of politicians in other countries (whether Obama or son of Gaddafi), the dogsbodies of the tabloid newspapers, or others. There are doubtless many factors to consider including assessment the convict's current threat to society (and I can imagine many with only a few months to live who could be an extreme threat) and the impact of release upon others likely to offend (i.e. does it lower the influence of deterrance). Not automatic release, but no-one should be excluded from consideration under circumstances of near-death because they deemed less human than others.
H, I imagine that you are of an age to rememebr the imprisonment of the Nazi politician, Rudolf Hess, who had a whole prison to himself until the day he died. At the end even the US Government, in agreement with those of the UK and France, thought he should be released. But inside he stayed because the USSR, as the fourth occupying power, would not co-sign the release. Compassion is thinkable even for those involved in the extermination of over 6 million people.
