Saddam - where's the anti capital punishment brigade then?

i couldn't be arsed

i personally feel that capital punishment is wrong but i was tempted to post. i just felt that the whole argument would be quite predictable.

 

I've never started a thread on the subject

Only contributed to them.

My stance, as already pointed out, is pretty clear on the subject and not open to debate.

 

Theres another reason why this is topical too

some ones been arrested for the murder and sexual assault of Lesley Moltseed ( i thinks thats how its spelt) in 1975. Stephan Kisco served about 15 years for the crime and I remember when he was acquitted in the early 90's that the news story made me cry because the only person who had stood by him all the way along was his mother. Kisco had a genetic disorder which meant that he had a learning disability and was sterile, and because sperm was found on the victim, this meant that years later his innocence was proved. He probably spent 15 years in prison abused by the screws and the inmates, as well as knowing that he shouldn't be there. He was released a broken man and died within a year aged in his 40's.

My point is that there is no doubt that he would have been hanged for a crime he did not commit. People talk about certainties and yes DNA does make the situation more water tight- but I believe there is no such thing as an absolute certainty.

 

I accept that, if you say so

But that wasn't my point.</p>

 

RE: Theres another reason why this is topical too

Even DNA evidence is not 100% certain but probably as close as you can get it.

 

DNA evidence can only prove that you were there not that you committed the crime.

 

RE: Theres another reason why this is topical too

I believe his mother died a few months after him. Poor lass.

 

Well you wondered why people weren't posting on it.

I only saw 1 other thread yesterday about it but decided not to comment.

Posted elsewhere in this thread my reasons why I still think it's wrong in this instance.

 

You can be certain Saddam ordered the death sentences

He said he did.

It's a matter of which side of the fence you sit on as to whether that means he should get a death sentence

 

RE: Theres another reason why this is topical too

I have always been anti-capital punishment and when this happened- more than any of the more high profile cases I was very angry and upset and the British Justice system and the fact that the coppers who forced confessions from stephan were never prosecuted.

Yea his mum died six months later, It was like she had hung on just for her son.

 

Like EastStander and many others...

...I generally avoid starting these kind of threads but as I'm asked.

I'm as much against the death penalty now as I was on Saturday before the verdict - one case isn't going to change my mind that governments shouldn't kill people, regardless of the pretext.

That said I doubt I'll lose too much sleep over it ti be honest - couldn't happen to a nicer fella...

Although I think you'll find that most of the "anti-capital punishment brigade" also belong to the "anti-arms trade brigade" and were opposed to selling guns and bombs (and, as was the case in the UK, seeing taxpayers money going towards compensation for arms dealers who Saddam ripped off) to murderous dictators in the first place.

If it was a genuine, "how do you feel about this case" question, fine - I take your point but, if not, there's a lot of other groups (the "lets sell guns to any bugger regardless of their morality brigade" for a start off - step forward Messers Bush Snr, Cheney & Rumsfeld) who ought to be doing their explaining and justifying long before we have to explain ourselves to anyone...

 

RE: DNA evidence can only prove that you were there not that you committed the crime.

So young lass gets killed and raped. your spunks dripping out of her....
open and shut your honour...

 

Why is that?

All that your &quot;spunk is dripping out of her shows&quot; is that you have had sex with her.</p>

How does that prove you have killed her?</p>

 

RE: Why is that?

its enough to get you done for rape.

 

There has to be more than just that,

it doesnt prove anything at all.</p>

 

RE: There has to be more than just that,

It would show that you had intercoarse. It would place you at the scene at the time she died.
YOu prove you DIDnt.

 

I dont believe you can convict on DNA evidence alone.

 

RE: I dont believe you can convict on DNA evidence alone.

You can get down for murder havin a jill dando picture in your room...

 

Thats La Dent's point

Convictions are almost never 100%.</p>

And as for your little scenario, what if u met a lass in tarn, she agreed to a quick one round the back with you and then u left. Somebody else then came and slit her throat and stole her money. By your theory you should be sent down for rape and murder because the only person who knows u didnt kill her is on the run and the only one who knows u didnt rape her is dead.</p>

 

Damned if you do...

If anyone who disagrees with capital punishment had started this, then all the folks who are up for it would be kicking off. As it is, no-one says owt, so therefore the folks who are for it kick off cos no-one has said owt. Sheesh.
But yep, Saddam was a bad old fcuker so I don't have much sympathy for him. Though some of those lads 'on our side' who sold him weapons should really have realised this before they sent him the brochures a while back.