It’d be nice to think our judicial system is totally infallible, but unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Innocent people are convicted of crimes they didn’t commit more often than anyone would like to admit, and in some cases, people who were later found to be innocent have actually been put to death.
Here are 8 people who were executed and innocent.
1. Cameron Todd Willingham—In 1992, Willingham was convicted of arson murder in Texas. He was believed to have intentionally set a fire that killed his three kids. In 2004, he was put to death. Unfortunately, the Texas Forensic Science Commission later found that the evidence was misinterpreted, and they concluded that none of the evidence used against Willingham was valid. As it turns out, the fire really was accidental.
2. Ruben Cantu—Cantu was 17 at the time the crime he was alleged of committing took place. Cantu was convicted of capital murder, and in 1993, the Texas teen was executed. About 12 years after his death, investigations show that Cantu likely didn’t commit the murder. The lone eyewitness recanted his testimony, and Cantu’s co-defendant later admitted he allowed his friend to be falsely accused. He says Cantu wasn’t even there the night of the murder.
3. Larry Griffin—Griffin was put to death in 1995 for the 1981 murder of Quintin Moss, a Missouri drug dealer. Griffin always maintained his innocence, and now, evidence seems to indicate he was telling the truth. The first police officer on the scene now says the eyewitness account was false, even though the officer supported the claims during the trial. Another eyewitness who was wounded during the attack was never contacted during the trial, and he says Griffin wasn’t present at the crime scene that night.
4. Carlos DeLuna—In 1989, DeLuna was executed for the stabbing of a Texas convenience store clerk. Almost 20 years later, Chicago Tribune uncovered evidence that shows DeLuna was likely innocent. The evidence showed that Carlos Hernandez, a man who even confessed to the murder many times, actually did the crime.
5. David Wayne Spence—Spence was put to death in 1997 for the murder of three teenagers in Texas. He was supposedly hired by a convenience store clerk to kill someone else, but he allegedly killed the wrong people by mistake.
The supervising police lieutenant said “I do not think David Spence committed this crime.” The lead homicide detective agreed, saying “My opinion is that David Spence was innocent. Nothing from the investigation ever led us to any evidence that he was involved.”
6. Jesse Tafero—In 1976, Tafero was convicted of murdering a state trooper. He and Sonia Jacobs were both sentenced to death for the crime. The main evidence used to convict them was testimony by someone else who was involved in the crime, ex-convict Walter Rhodes. Rhodes gave this testimony in exchange for a life sentence. In 1990, Tafero was put to death. Two years later, his companion Jacobs was released due to a lack of evidence…the same evidence used to put Tafero to death.
7 & 8. Thomas Griffin and Meeks Griffin— The oldest case on this list dates back to 1915. The Griffin brothers, two black men, were convicted of the murder of a white man. The reason they were convicted is because Monk Stevenson, another black man suspected of committing the murder, pointed to the brothers as having been responsible. He later admitted the reason he blamed them is because they were wealthy, and he assumed they had the money to beat the charges. The Griffin brothers were completely innocent, but they were put to death nonetheless.
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74 comments
KillTheMurderers
Talk about a bogus story. None of these executed criminals were found to be innocent. The writer is full of crap. He's using theory to justify his BS. He's clearly an idiot pushing horse manure.
Uilium
@Rich Why are you defending this? 8 people were killed that could be proven but how many are innocent that can not be proven?
It's hard to actually care about anyone other than oneself or family but how dare you be so matter of fact about 8 people killed. What if it was you or your family that was killed? Would you care then?
Psychopaths often sleep best after killing someone.
DK
It is difficult to get a fair trial when witnesses and law enforcement lie or misrepresent the truth. Witnesses can have any number of motives behind their actions but law enforcement often view lying or misrepresenting the truth as just another tool to use in doing their job. It's difficult to the right and wrong of a situation when the ones charged with serving and protecting are a large part of the problem.
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Racist
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Tina
Are you thinking of a crime from 1915? There is a movie called, "The Murder of Mary Phagan," which is about the Leo Frank case. His death sentence was commuted; however, a lynch mob broke into the jail and kidnapped him. He was hanged. I think Jack Lemon in his in the made-for-tv movie. I hope that helps.
Therese Phillips
Am looking for a movie of a very young recently married man who was wrongfully put to death. He repeatedly told everyone including his wife "I am innocent I am not guilty" the person who was to become a governor I believe visited him late one night to get him to change his plea and thereby take a life sentence but he insisted that he was innocent.
sheilla
very horrible , being locked for many years, going up and down courts full of people boo booing you, then simply murdered , i real feel bad
Rich
It's funny how the headline says that those 8 people were "found innocent", yet the details of 5 of the 8 say that they were "likely innocent".
Additionally, 2 more were from a time and place where "law enforcement" needed little (if any) reason to convict/execute blacks for killing whites. These 2 are the most egregious by far, but the system has come a long way in the last 100 years.
If the other 6 are the best examples that you can come up with in the last 50 years, I'd say that we've come a long way and, while perhaps not perfect and admitting there is room for improvement, we are doing a pretty good job overall.
I, for one, will have no problem sleeping tonight.
MrM3000
The death penalty is inherently evil. It is no more justice than vigilante justice, which is to say, it is no justice at all.
Furthermore, if an innocent is executed then not only have two crimes and two injustices been committed, the real perpetrator of the crime that results in the death penalty is still at large and still unpunished. This isn't justice, it's a miscarriage of justice and it makes all complicit in it. We have a duty and an obligation to see it abolished.
I hope to live long enough to see the day when this abomination masquerading as morality is finally put to rest.
Robobotix
The scariest thing is that anyone could be wrongly accused... You, me, it doesn't matter who you are. I mean really it just takes some bad luck and suddenly your on death row being murdered by a group of people and there isn't anything you can do about it.
It's not the whole "an eye for an eye" concept that bothers me, it's that even if facts which can prove your innocence or disprove your guilt do come out you will more than likely still end up with a needle in your arm...
Sometimes I try to imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, wrongly accused, trapped in a cage, surrounded by people who want to murder me, waiting to be murdered and stripped of all my freedom... Scary...
chris
I bet all those involved feel stupid oh wait till they are standing in front of God there going to wish they never were a part of something so cruel God be with the insistent and God be with the judgers
willie
That's really Sad!
Pappadave
Very convenient. Accusers and "witnesses" recanting AFTER the executions. Something about these 8 "examples" smells to high Heaven.
Abigaill
For those that have posted 'oh well, our justice system isn't infallible,' you would be singing a different tune if it was you on death row accused and convicted falsely.
We do not have the right to kill an innocent person in fear that we let go a murderer that will commit the crime again.
Killing an innocent person deals them cruel and unusual punishment times three:
First the conviction, then years suffering in prison on death row and finally being put to death.
To be eligible for a death sentence, the standard of proof needs to be set a lot higher than simply if eligible for a jail sentence.
Travis
I don't get it. Why are some cases are still investigated after the convict is put to sleep. As a dead man or woman, I find nothing good out of it, because the person is to stiff to enjoy the rest of their life. Some cases are justified, but too many are relied upon the people of the jury that has to make a decision based on prosecution and defense lawyers input. None of these people were there at the scene of the crime and witnesses can lie. One can fabricate a fairy tail to win one's freedom and the other may do the same in order win and lock 'em up. I can't believe that an innocent person's life has to be endangered like this and sometimes a guilty person is set free. Life suck in court!
Citizen
Many more innocent people are killed by murderers who have been released from prisons. The death penalty is not about vengeance, it is about justice. Our justice system should strive to reduce the number of innocent victims as much as possible. Too many supposedly non-parolable "life" sentences have their sentences reduced or commuted. While it is tragic for innocent men to be wrongfully executed, the reality is that many murders are caused by lenience and unwillingness to use the death penalty.
Outraged
How can you possibly think that killing innocent people is justified in any way? The vague possibility of a guilty person doing another crime is a reason a completely innocent person should pay with their life? Is this because it is usually poor and marginalized innocent people who are incarcerated or executed that you think this is ok? Do you beat your kids just in case they might do something wrong or lie about it?
Kevin
The first sentence in this article is silly on its face. If anyone thinks anything in the earthly world is " infallabal" , you are a fool. Of course there are people who are innocent that have been executed. It's terrible for sure. But even forensic evidence is falable.
All you can do is make it as fair as possible and continue to make the process better. But that's just the way it is.
Black Ceaser
@sovereign citizens - you were making good sense until you jumped the shark and started talking about people having babies and you having use your hard earned money to pay for them. That Attention Deficit Disorder is a beast. Try to remember to take your meds before you post a comment.
been there, still there
While I agree with some of the comments here, others make me just see red. Today is April 14th 2014 and I just watch a documentary on a man named Anthony Graves who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He spent 18 years on death row before being PROVEN innocent. If more effort were to be given in PROVING his guilt, he would never have spent 1 day in jail much less prison. He was convicted on one mans testimony , the real person who committed the murders said that Anthony helped him kill 5 people. That's it. that all the evidence they had and he was to die for it. Later just before his execution , the man finally said he had lied and that Anthony had nothing to do with it and that he didn't even know Anthony. Anthony spent 18 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. He missed being a father, his son was grown when he got out, he spent 18 very long years fearing for his life. Anthony is not alone, there are hundreds of innocent men and women on death row not to mention the ones doing a life sentence. And for those of you who think prison is over rated , trust me when I say to some doing life, death would be a welcome event. Yes inmates have a bed to sleep in, but you live in a 5X 8 cell and that bed is hard and uncomfortable, yes they have 3 meals a day, if you love eating turkey everyday and on occasions a mystery meat and always over cooked veg. , of course you'll eat anything if you're hungry enough, and sure they can watch tv a little but you can only watch at certain times and only what the prison says you can watch. You are told what to do and how and when to do it. The guards harass and taunt you and you are always watching your back because the possibility of attacks from other inmates is ever present.. You can't smoke or have any money in your pockets. You have no means of relieving stress. You are subject to searches 24 hours a day, something a lot of guards find entertaining and do it just because they can. You are belittled , harassed , dehumanized , and bullied each and every day. and that's from the staff more than other inmates. They take your dignity and your pride. Yes you have free medical care, not true, inmates are charged $5.00 for a medical visit, that is when they get around to seeing you. God forbid you have a tooth ache, there is no preventive care, your teeth rot and they ache, and it could takes weeks to see a dentist and in the meantime you are not given anything for pain. How do I know this? My husband has been in prison for 26 years for a crime he did not commit. He was convicted of 1st degree murder based on the" felony murder rule" ( look it up ) He had nothing to do with the murder but yet he is in prison doing a life sentence, the man who did the murder pled no contest to second degree murder, was sentenced to 15 years and was out in 4 years. I defy anyone to tell me that is fair. The truth is in my opinion that our judicial system stinks. There is so much corruption from police officers to judges, it is unreal. It's easy for some of you to judge others without knowing all the facts and to you I say, you are as corrupt as our judicial system is. Don't judge me until you have walked a mile in my shoes. How do I feel about the death penalty ? I feel it should only be used in extreme cases, only when the person has been PROVEN to have committed a heinous crime, serial killers comes to mind. Only those that could never be trusted on the outside. Then and only then do I support the death penalty. I think life sentences and the death penalties are handed out like candy, with little or no actual proof of guilt. Texas is not alone in this, all states that recognize the death penalty is guilty of over use of this sentence. I hope non of you ever find yourself on the other side of the law trying to prove your innocence. Or how about your son or daughters, would you still support the death penalty if your son or daughter were wrongfully accused. It could happen very easily. ... Have a great day and God bless.
MsBrenda
I also understand your frustration with the justice system, my husband was falsely imprisoned for 13 1/2 years for a crime he didn't do - to make it worse, he is labelled now for THE REST OF HIS LIFE as a registered sex offender!! His 1st wife wanted out of the marriage, & with help from her friend, they filed false charges - claiming he sexually abused her 6 year old daughter (non penetration) with NO DNA EVIDENCE, ONLY WORD OF MOUTH!!!! He had a court appointed lawyer (what a joke!) who didn't care at all about his innocence!! Pretty much it was a "kangaroo court"!!! While he sat in a prison cell, she filed for & got a divorce, she gave up for adoption HIS biological daughter (who was only 9 months old when he was sent away), a son that was born before HIS daughter which she claimed wasn't his, also a son that she claimed was his that she delivered while he was locked up!! He was bullied into signing away his rights!! AND HE HAS TO CHECK IN EVERY 3 MONTHS WITH A DEPUTY AS A SEX OFFENDER!! I am a grandma (not his) 5x & my sister lives with us (she too is a grandma) - we cannot have our grandchildren stay with us because of his "label"!! The only person(s) under 18 allowed to stay here are any biological children he has. IT SUCKS!!! Prayers for you, God Bless You.
stacy
I'm just saying 'Houston, we DO have a problem...'
stacy
Doesn't anyone remember George Bush Jr., as the Governor of Texas, refused to reconsider new DNA evidence in the cases of those accused of murder and sentenced to death? If I remember correctly there were some 200 + on death row.
KnDvAbGdL
all of you act surprised...(smirking) like you didn't know what to expect!!
diana martinez
i believe that capital punishment is such bull
Duncan
Wow..is right! Death penalty cases should only be determined with factual forensic evidence, not on eyewitness testimony, my opinion:)
rango
The reason for mistakes are political. Governor's and Police commissionaires have to please they voters and reach certain quotas of solved cases.Often the investigations are done quickly and without all the facts. Coming to the court appearance if you are uneducated,black and have no money for a good lawyer,it is easy to end up guilty.
Finally the prosecution often builds their careers on those wins,and sleeps well, despite their mistakes...!!!
ireT22
I know I'm a bit late posting here but since I'm not sure where I stand on the death penalty I often go online to read and just now happened a cross this site.
One of the reasons I'm on the fence is because for the most part court cases are played out like a board game, where outsmarting the opponent is helped by having money to buy extra players, being smart enough with word games to make or break witnesses or keep that tell all piece of evidence out, or in some cases a win or lose could be nothing more than luck.
The legal system seems to have some sort of crime =punishment structure, or at least they do their best to have a punishment fits the crime clear up until death penalty cases. For instance robbery is a crime and obviously should be punished, but if I'm understanding correctly in some states if a person is in on a robbery, designated job they away driver" and someone gets killed, they are charged as if they pulled the trigger. A case in the next courtroom could be a serial killer who has documented in detail all his killings, but in the shock of it all that evidence was gathered without a search warrant so can't be used.
That said and now reading that some of the executed may have been innocent makes me think the risks out weigh the benefits. Or if used it should be reserved solely for those who've committed crimes like the murder of 9 year old Jessica Lundsford, the double murder of Christian & Christopher Newsome, the double murder of Carol & Reggie Sumner etc Killing is wrong, no doubt, but being a driver/ lookout, or being chased after a robbery and blindly firing, killing someone still shouldn't be in the same category as someone who steals a 9 year old out of her bedroom, holds her for almost 3 days, raping etc her then burying her alive.
My other constant question with the death penalty is what does it do to the families of the person executed. Do they too resort to things like drugs and drinking to numb the pain, causing them to repeat similar crimes, this time possibly involving the death of one of mine/your innocent family members? Over and over I read or hear about multiple family members ending up arrested over the years for things like murder, some say it's hereditary but is it? It also seems that often those convicted and sentenced to LWOP or death tend to try to push relatives away from a life of crime, using their bad choices and where they are as an example. What happens to them when that voice stops at the hands of authorities? Do they throw their hands up in the air thinking serves you right dad, or do they obsess about evening the score, again possibly involving our friends and family.
That combined with all the money required to take death penalty cases through the system I tend to think that LWOP would be the better choice all around in the majority of these cases.
NoNeedforNamecalling
I too am very late posting here. Actually a person referenced this page in a debate on another site.
I can see you put a lot of thought into this, and despite the disagreements we might have, one thing you said stood out to me.
"...being chased after a robbery and blindly firing, killing someone still shouldn't be in the same category as someone who steals a 9 year old out of her bedroom, holds her for almost 3 days, raping etc her then burying her alive."
Obviously kidnapping, rape, and the other charges are irrelevant. In that case, the murderer did it on purpose. In the hypothetical situation, I would have to say this. If you are pulling the trigger of a gun, you should know what you are shooting at. Blindly firing shows a sense of recklessness. To me, a person who killed someone by throwing the gun behind their shoulder and popping off a few shots is a careless monster and should be given the same punishment as the person who saw a man on the street who looked funny to him, pulled out a knife, and stabbed him to death.
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Karen Belanger
Dallas county Texas has one of the highest rates of wrongful convictions in the nation. Many men and woman spent more than a decade incarcerated before their convictions were overturned and they were released based on new trials and evidence. The majority of the people wrongfully convicted were of African American and Hispanic ethnicity. Imagine that (sigh).
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You are all idiots
Ruben Cantu also shot a police officer four times for no reason. The case was then dropped because of an improper search. I say good riddance.
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They Killed Troy Davis – Page 19
[...] [QUOTE=The Field Marshal;4386700]Where has that happened? QUOTE] 8 People Who Were Executed and Later Found Innocent | Naked Law by Avvo.com Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
Dan Merritt
It seems the majority of innocent men put to death happened in texass. Sick ferry is running on his record in texass, he should be running away from his backwards ass hillbilly-like slimy texass record.
Really? « my divine reason – words from an urban bohemian
[...] you to Naked Law by AVVO - http://nakedlaw.avvo.com/2010/05/8-people-who-were-executed-and-later-found-innocent/ for their [...]
What’s An Acceptable Number Of Innocent People Being Executed? – Page 21 – US Message Board – Political Discussion Forum
[...] 8 People Who Were Executed and Later Found Innocent | Naked Law by Avvo.com [...]
Paul
This is bullshit. How can the court & the police make such foolish mistakes. I personally believe that using Capital Punishment as a deterrent is inconcinient as compared to the more humane way of long-term incarceration.
Isaac
I don't understand how the judicial system can allow themselves to make such mistakes. This is done too many times!
Amy
Anyone who thinks killing another human being is just as bad as the person who committed the murder! There's only one person that will judge us in the end! I don't care how many people say that religion has nothing to do with this or God. C'mon people, Thou shall not kill?? And if you believe in something so horrible what kind of human being are you? Killing is killing, I don't care what kind of category you put it in! I believe that someone committing such a crime should spend the rest of their life in prison. How does killing someone justify anything? What kind of nation is this... and then we see other countries on how they execute their citizens. Aren't we glad we are not part of their country, but then to go and support something like the death penalty?? Just plain dumb!!
Matthew Steward
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. Genesis 9:6
NoNeedforNamecalling
I believe in God, and support the death penalty. You bring up a good point with the 7th commandment. However, did God not also send his people, the Israelites, to battle on multiple occasions, sometimes ordering them to kill every man, woman, and child?
Wait, are you saying the Bible contradicts itself? I say it doesn't because I interpret the 7th commandment, as do many others, to mean "do not MURDER." I would fight for my country, my family, and even myself. If someone tries to kill me, I could justify killing them in self defense, although I hope nothing like anything I stated would ever happen.
You're probably thinking (if you're even reading this) "but couldn't the death penalty be considered murder?" I see it this way. It's called the justice system for a reason. Someone who is wronged deserves justice. If someone murders someone else, is proven guilty, and found guilty by a jury of his/her peers, then they deserve to die. They have earned it. I think they should be given time and counsel to accept Jesus, too.
But living the rest of one's life not having to worry about food, bills, or medical care in a facility where one can watch tv, read, and basically relax 24/7 doesn't sound like justice to me. Don't get me wrong, prison sucks. But I don't think it's fair.
If a cogent, succint, non-philosophical argument against the death penalty exists, it is this… « Lance Mohring
[...] That you cannot kill innocent people! 8 People Who Were Executed and Later Found Innocent [...]
Chaz Sohns
Anyone who puts religion into a political matter is just plain stupid. Stop backing up you stupid fucking ideas with religion, its honestly the weakest thing to use a a source. Start using actual logic...
ps. anyone who thinks im against religion is incorrect, i am religious too but i dont use it as a source to prove i am correct about a matter. (just simply stop using "God said this or the bible said this.")
gp
Also, Hey Trent you fucking idiot, Im coming over to take one of your family members and execute them by mistake. I bet your attitude changes a bit.
My bad, Pigs or anybody named Trent, EAT A BULLET
gp
you im glad my last name isnt griffin. That seems to be very unlucky.
Poor Tafero, as soon as a pig is involved there has to be quick punishment. Even if there innocent
Any pigs looking (EAT A BULLET!)
Duane
The sad thing about the Tafero case is that Walter Rhodes confessed that he murdered the two cops. Yet the wrong guy gets electrocuted, and botched too!
TJ
GIVING THE DEATH SENTENCE MAKES THE ''LEGAL'' EXECUTONERS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF... COLD BLOODED KILLERS. AND REMEMBER 2 WRONGS CERTAINLY DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT
Chaz Sohns
3 lefts make a right.
The Innocence project – Page 5 – US Message Board – Political Discussion Forum
[...] a list of eight, RetardedFuckTard. Now quit lying, if you can. 8 People Who Were Executed and Later Found Innocent | Naked Law by Avvo.com [...]
brynda beeman
I see many people are saying "god said". from what I know, god said nothing....the bible is written by humans, not god.....and...here's something to chew on...why is it considered perfectly sane to believe in god and follow the laws of a book that is supposedly "his" word, but if a person says they talk to god or have seen god we say they are crazy. Does this make any sense whatsoever???? As far as the United States and it legal system...what a joke! Just like every other aspect of our government, money talks...so if you plan on committing a murder and don't want to be put to death for it...just make sure you have a bunch of money, are a police officer, or have a politician in your back pocket, then there is no need to worry about being put to death for your crime
Chaz Sohns
Brynda you are right, and i agree with you.
Matthew Steward
Does evolution make sense to you that people randomly came from nothing without design it is not possible to line up amino acids in all possible combinations moving one every minute in the length of time that evolutionists falsely suppose to be the age of the earth. And everyone will stand trial before the Judge of the world and if you have done one thing wrong you are guilty of high treason against a holy God. if you are not covered by His son's blood you will be condemned to eternal death. Finally I am completely sane, but i do talk to God and whether or not you believe he exists you WILL bow before Him. I pray that you will bow voluntarily in this life instead of involuntarily in the next.
Tonja
About half of the executed that were really innocent resided in what state??
Texas!
Houston, we have a problem...
Utah firing squad executes convicted killer – Page 24 – Political Forum
[...] but Tafero killed. Thomas Griffin and Meeks Griffin - both executed although both were innocent. http://nakedlaw.avvo.com/2010/05/8-p...ound-innocent/ Strong evidence of innocence in the following: Carlos DeLuna Texas Conviction: 1983, Executed: [...]
Al
the united states justice system should be modified to not guilty without any doubt and any further evidence that may arise later that would represnt an innocent wrong conviction. Also more attention and case reviews should be to those who claim not to be guilty and rather
to quick conclusion of getting a conviction and in my opinion all the judges,Attornies,prosecutors including court clerks,police officers and other involved in the justice system who are in doubt should be terminated from their well paid and relaxed job by tax payers and not only innocent don't die and also justice is done fairly and close to perfect in none criminal cases all over if we take away the corrupt part of justice system as well.
Janice Robinson
You forgot one for sure that I have researched.
First woman ever executed was Mary Surratt, she was executed for being a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination.
Since they didn't allow John wilkes booth diary in as evidence she was executed on July 7th 1865 Mary was hanged. Later she was found innocent of wrong doing.
www.surratt.org
Pelon
I just feel that Prosecuting Attornies who knowingly withhold, or persue an innocent accused, SHOULD receive the same sentence. As for those on death row, sorry, but we spend way too much money housing these people, Proven guilty, ONE retrial, either exonerated, and released within a week, or executed. I would rather have my tax dollars supporting my FELLOW AMERICANS fighting the war. That is all I have to say 'bout that.
Trent
KEEP the death penalty, execute faster and see if it doesn't deter crime.
I feel bad for 8 people. But for the bleeding hearts here. How many people would be alive today if repeat offenders had been properly sentenced and yes, executed. (and yeah, RAPE is a CAPITAL CRIME in my book).
So, we want to throw up the mistakes of a system over 100 years, that has kept us civilized and relatively safe.
The way it should work is that executions aren't carried out in dark rooms in the far end of a prison.
There should be gallows and firing squads, all set up line arena football.
And youth offenders should be forced to watch, so they know where their path is leading them.