An extreme example of humanity

[hc4361]

This couple is the reason I am so firmly against the death penalty. If the youths had been sentenced to death, what would have become of the victim's parents?

http://www.dailymail....d-son-death--job.html

If a rapist is sentenced to death, does that help the victim or just burden him or her with more guilt, grief, anger?

Does anybody really believe that the death penalty is a comfort to victims of violent crime?

[craft1948]

If this had been my daughter I couldn't have done it. What this tells you about me I do not know.

[hc4361]

craft, you don't know how you would react as you haven't been in such a situation (I hope!).

I know what bitterness and hatred does to a person, though.

[Mick-Talbot]

Me either, I find this bizarre.

[craft1948]

I couldn't imagine forgiving anyone who had killed my child, I would have wanted to, and if possible, tried to kill them myself.

[NOX]

Amazing people. Whilst I agree with everything they say and 100% back the idea in my heart of hearts I'm not sure I could have in all honesty let it go if it were my child, in fact I think if I'm brutally honest I'd be waiting for them when they got out of prison.
I have nothing but utter admiration for this couple, I find them remarkable and the story very touching.

[sir.prize]

hc3461 - how would you feel if he was named Huntley?

[Duncer]

I have to echo every word of NOX's post. I am nowhere near big enough to do what this couple have done and, like an earlier post, I think murder verges on the unforgiveable, especially if it is your child. Much better people than I could ever be.

[Mick-Talbot]

After three hours of laughing together and sharing confidences, they all embraced




Truly bizarre ...

[Duncer]

If this had been my daughter I couldn't have done it. What this tells you about me I do not know.

Craft, it tells me all I need to know about you and your love for your daughter. I want you more than ever :-)

[gness]

I haven't lost a child to murder. I know I wouldn't want to forgive. Would I want revenge? Yes.

Would sentencing the abuser of a seven year old child to death burden her with guilt, grief, anger. Not at all.

Would it help the victim. Yes.
Believe me hc....there is a time to be glad someone has died.

[mike11111]

I fail to see what this has got to do with the arguments in favour of, or otherwise against capital punishment. The awesome majesty of English law is that it is taken out of the hand of so called "victims". When those who have suffered as a result of any crime, no matter how trivial or grave, are allowed a say in the process of the course of justice, then we are on the road to hell in a handcart. Let us leave the concept of life, death or amputation to the uncivilised of the Eastern world.

[Duncer]

Would sentencing the abuser of a seven year old child to death burden her with guilt, grief, anger. Not at all.

A shared Guinness is due, I'm entirely with you on this one.

[hc4361]

sir.prize I don't understand your question. Huntley was a mature adult acting alone and is serving a minimum 40 year sentence in prison and I have no idea how the victims' parents are coping.

[naomi24]

I can't get my head around it. I know I could never forgive.

[NOX]

See now I'm differing here I think it would burden a child with grief. I was physically abused as a kid and I was 100% convinced initially that it must be something about me, something I had done or that I was inherently bad in some way. Much as I wanted it to stop if someone had come along and judicially whacked my Dad for it, I would have been stone cold mortified and very much felt that was my fault as well. As it happened the feck got himself killed all on his own which began my happy acquaintance with karma lol.

[craft1948]

The thing is, you've got to protect your children whatever the outcome, and if you can't do that, regardless of their age you think you've failed. When my daughter went out of our bedroom into her own I used to panic that if someone broke into our house I wasn't there to look after her, and that it would be my fault if anything happened to her.
I could never do what these people did................

[Duncer]

Sorry to hear that NOX, but the fact that you wouldn't have understood doesn't mean it shouldn't have been stopped, (or, to paraphrase, someone shouldn't have whacked yer oul da), had they been in a position to do so. I appreciate the difficulty for a child when it comes to comprehending something so apparently complex at the time, but surely it cannot be allowed to continue.

Incidentally, I am not talking out of my Yabbie as usual; my niece was abused and I got the paramilitaries on both sides involved. I will say no more than, "nobody died".

[gness]

I do understand what you are saying NOX.....very well, but the death of an abuser can sometimes be a happy event for a victim.

[gness]

And to Crafty...yes we should protect our children. Sadly some parents don't.

[NOX]

No of course it should not be allowed to continue, but I think adding someone's death to an already upset and confused child's burden is probably not the best idea imho, the victim always ought to be foremost in everyone's mind and their welfare paramount.
'I got the paramilitaries on both sides involved'- kids bring out the best in all of us... glad you got it sorted.