I WOULD like to make some observations regarding Kenneth Bowker's appeal for the reintroduction of the death penalty (November 22).
He writes it is "highly unlikely that there is a real risk of a wrongful conviction leading to a miscarriage of justice". Presumably, therefore, he accepts some risk of such an outcome, and so he believes that state killing by mistake should be tolerated.
He should note that were the United Kingdom to reintroduce the death penalty, we would be in breach of the European Convention On Human Rights and, as such, would be required to leave the European Union - an outcome that some might consider attractive.
They might prefer to join a new European club with Russia and Belarus, the only European countries still using the death penalty.
Mr Bowker believes capital punishment acts as a deterrent. In the USA there is no evidence that this is the case: rates of homicide, among the highest in the world, are higher in those states where capital punishment is applied than in the few states where there is no such sanction.
Similarly, rates of homicide have continued to rise in those states where the death penalty has been reintroduced.
Simon Sweeney,
Glebe Cottages,
Sheriff Hutton,
York.
Updated: 10:42 Friday, November 25, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article