"Some people act as if the punishment is more gratifying to them than preventing the crime. They want to inflict suffering and they use wrongdoing as an excuse for their gratification. We'd be better off without the criminals or the armchair executioners free in society."
In such a case as that outlined, nothing can undo what has been done...she is dead, the guy did it and he will be punished according to their laws.
Case closed.
But what about those left? What about the families of such victims, or in the case of those who survive, the victims themselves?
The fear of going to jail didn't prevent him killing this girl, nor did the fear of being sentenced to death...in fact, one might argue, any form of punishment short of giving him a slap on the wrist, would have resulted in a similar outcome.
"The more draconian the penalty, the more likely perpetrators will kill their victims."...
This is an untenable statement...not unlike the process of giving in to hostage-takers. By extension, it suggests the only answer to prevent such crimes is not to punish them at all...clearly, this will only lead to more crime.
This guy killed her because he didn't want to get caught, regardless of the punishment...it really is as simple as that! I suggest that at the time, his thought process wouldn't have even looked beyond this simple fact.
He was probably more afraid of his mother finding out than being arrested!
My suggestion of an eye for an eye was not meant to be taken literally, rather it was intended as an illustration of how those incensed by such crimes, could be empowered to determine what sort of punishment might fit the crime.
Personally, while thinking of the eye-for-an-eye description of his punishment, it felt good to think this particular criminal might suffer the same fate as his victim...that he would know the fear and pain he inflicted on her.
This is the point of my argument.
The common denominator with all victims of crime is a feeling that the assailant has gained "power" over them...they feel "powerless" and often suffer severe depression as a result.
How about we include the victims and/or their families in the process of determining an appropriate form of punishment...that is, beyond the current victim impact statement?
Perhaps, within the constraints of a pre-determined framework, we can give the power back to the victims?
