The difference betwixt a civilised country and a not-so.

Watched a docoomentary last night with ma two kids - ma wee girl in particular likes gory stuff.

'Twas aboot death row. In t'States. This scary cove was a day from being sent to his maker with the application of some drugs.

Seems the creepy creep had raped one woman and shot her and two friends leaving them for dead. One did.

Like all Americans, he was articulate. But still very scary.

Some 7 years ago in Iran, an 18-year old lad was walking with his mates through a bazaar when he was bumped into by an equally young man going the other way. Miffed, he retaliated by kicking the bumper. The bumper pulls out a kitchen knife he had in his sock and stabs the young man, who dies.

In America, the convicted psycho was to be strapped to a gurney and given a lethal cocktail of drugs to send him peacefully on his way. Sure he was to have an audience - amongst the witnesses were to be members of the victim's families.

In Iran the execution was to be slightly more macabre - a crude low scaffold, a short length of rope and a chair for the condemned to stand on. Audience? You bet - as many as could be squeezed in to watch. Usually televised too.

In the States, the executioner flicks a switch and the drugs are administered - relaxants first, followed by the lethal mix. Like going to sleep.

In Iran - under Sharia law with its literal interpretation of the koran/bible, an eye for eye, tooth-ditto - the mother of the victim was to knock the chair away and bring this young man to a squirming, drawn-out (no sniggering) death. This tragic mum had already lost her 11-year old son in a motorcycle accident - I think we can sympathise with her grief.

In the States, the switch was flicked - the family watched.

In Iran, the grieving mother ran forward, drew back her hand, and slapped the hooded killer of her son. And then asked for him to be released.

She then fell into the arms of the murderer's mother and they both wept their eyes out - one for her loss and the other from having her son saved.

In the States, the family was interviewed afterwards. The mum spat - "It was too easy - it should have been painful. It should have been televised in the middle of a football game. The execution should have taken place out in the prison grounds where crowds could watch..."

 

Really, Tom? And that would help to give you peace?

 

Jesus, Gadget Man - that's shocking.

I cannot guess how I'd feel towards a killer if it were me, but I guess it would depend on lots of things such as just how 'psycho' the murderer was.

By all accounts, the killer in Iran was a naive young man full of bravado, but largely unaware of the possible consequences of actions. Wrong time/ wrong place/ wrong attitude. I can only hope that he goes on to do decent things and always appreciates the astonishing decision of this woman (we are talking Iran here, folks...)

So I suspect, had she knocked the chair away, she'd have even less peace for the rest of her life. Now that she has done something incredibly decent, she might be able to gain some strength in seeing that a further life wasn't needlessly taken away. I guess it all depends on what this young man does now - mind you, he'll probably be locked away for most of his life...

The killer in the States looked and behaved like a psycho. His crime was brutal and merciless in the extreme. I certainly won't lose any sleep over his demise.

But the reaction of the victim's parents were disappointing. And, no, I won't say understandable. They were looking for the crudest form of satisfaction, revenge, whatever. And find themselves behaving not much better than the killer psycho.

They'll never have peace.

 

Cheb, but she might feel a lot better if he goes on to do great things.

Well, you said 'if' first.

 

Tom, that undoubtedly foul thug did not kill Rhys. Having said that, anyone handling a gun in this country should be severely punished - 5 years doesn't seem enough in this case.

It's a bit like drunk driving - get caught and you lose your licence and get fined. Get caught after drinking the same amount but having run someone over and you get years in gaol. Why should there be a difference? Both were 'loaded' and equally capable of causing the same fatality, so why should the 'lucky' one who got caught before they ran someone over get off more lightly?

Cheb - I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same. But I think the key word in that sentence is 'intent'.

 

Taken to its logical conclusion, Tom, any member of such as gang should be, what?, locked up for life? 'Capitalised'? Get 'em off the street, even if it means permanently?