I'm not suggesting that people who commit crimes shouldn't be punished. Quite the contrary - none of them should go unpunished. I don't distinguish between criminals with a criminal motive, criminals with a political motive or in fact criminals in police or military office.
As you say, the prospect of imprisonment and even the death penalty did not deter this criminal from a ghastly crime against an innocent and defenceless child.
I took exception to yak's gloating desire to be the executioner. That's sick and abnormal.
When you said "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", aren't you expressing the same motive to have power over the criminal that you ascribe to criminals over their victims?
