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January 09, 2008
The pragmatism of the death penalty
As the US Supreme Court hears arguments against the death penalty, more specifically, if the use of lethal injection falls under the "cruel and unusual" definition, the arguments in support or against or even muddled in between fail one to note one important factor that was illustrated in the article posted by Sanity Inspector re: the gruesome slaughter of Meredith Emerson by Gary Hilton
The affidavit for Hilton's murder warrant disclosed that Emerson died Jan. 4 in Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area, five miles southwest of Dawsonville, where investigators found her body Monday evening with Hilton's help.He led authorities to her body in exchange for prosecutors' agreeing not to seek the death penalty against him in the case, Union County District Attorney Stan Gunter told The Associated Press.
Maybe the anti-death penalty advocates can give us another tool to help persuade evil people like Hilton to reveal where the body/victim has been stashed?
Though, I bet waterboarding is off the list, too.
Posted by Darleen at January 9, 2008 07:02 AM
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Comments
That the death penalty is useful for prosecutors seeking information has nothing to do with whether it's cruel or unusual. The arguments "fail to note" that "important factor" because that factor is irrelevant and therefore not important at all.
Posted by: Josh at January 9, 2008 11:32 AM
The usefulness of the dp has always been a relevent argument from both sides. As a tool of persuasion in instances like the one I post, it makes it a very relevant factor to consider in the total argument. The SCOTUS case is only about one issue concerning how the dp is carried out (though much of the arguments of "cruel/unusual" go beyond method to the whole issue of dp in and of itself).
Posted by: Darleen at January 10, 2008 06:34 AM
Not to worry, Darleen, I believe that Florida will cheerfully give the bastard the needle. That's the problem with being a serial killer, you leave bodies in many jurisdictions. Not all of whom need your cooperation to connect the dots.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at January 20, 2008 08:31 AM