Death Penalty In Western Australia

[NiGHTFuRY]

Are you for or against? Should it be exclusively reserved for certain cases, where the crime is just so horrendous - ie. Dante [can't recall surname] who murdered and sexual assualted that young girl in the shopping centre toilet, or people who kill someone by cowardly king hits at pubs, nightspot areas?
Is the death penalty state sanctioned murder, a unfortuate throw back to colonial and by gone times, that has rightfully been dropped by a majority of Western Nations. Is it more of a punishment to let convicted murderers exist in a small cell for a true sentance of life so that they endure years of misery? Whats your opinion? Who should've been sentenced to death for there crimes in Western Australia if you think the Death Penalty should be in use?

[Freo Big Fella]

No. If supporters could demonstrate that it reduced anything other than recividism they could probably swing me around, but they can't.

Look at that asian bloke who got hung in Singapore the other year? What did that actually achieve other than killing a lowly drug-mule. Won't stop the drugs trade, won't stop idiots from becoming mules themselves. What did killing him actually achieve? The same goes for stuff like rape and murder, Dante Wyndam-Arthurs or the Birnies weren't exactly going to say "ooh. I better not do this, I might get the chair".

Just pointless IMO.

[dominguez]

or people who kill someone by cowardly king hits at pubs, nightspot areas?


Most of those incidents don't even result in a manslaughter conviction.

[Belnakor]

Just pointless IMO.

If you don't go overboard with the appeals system it saves money long term.

[Belnakor]

Most of those incidents don't even result in a manslaughter conviction.

Thats mainly because the media gets hysterical about every time there is a fight in a nightclub where someone knocks their head after falling, and it always comes out as "My Johnny was just standing there minding his own business and someone came up and king hit him and now he's dead" but in reality it turns out to be "My Johnny was paralytic drunk, got into an argument with a stranger which resulted in a fight - Johnny fell back and hit his head".

If it is a pure "king hit" (and the media need to actually realize what a king hit is - if you are in an argument with someone and they end up punching you in the face thats not a "king hit") then that person should be charged and thrown in jail for a long long time - but thats rarely the case.

[summerthebat]

I imagine majority of murders are not preplanned and would come down to a bloodlust/rage for whatever reason, so the threat of execution would be meaningless..... they would kill regardless of the punishment.

For everything else, people commit these crimes such as drug smuggling and calculated murder because they genuinely think they can get away with it. The punishment isn't the deterrent, if people think they can beat the system and they disregard society's 'moral code' then what would stop them?

[Belnakor]

No. If supporters could demonstrate that it reduced anything other than recividism they could probably swing me around, but they can't.

Look at that asian bloke who got hung in Singapore the other year? What did that actually achieve other than killing a lowly drug-mule. Won't stop the drugs trade, won't stop idiots from becoming mules themselves.

Just pointless IMO.

I don't think you'll have too many drop kicks wanting to smuggle drugs out of bali any time soon.

Its all about making it difficult - If people know they'll be going to the chair for smuggling drugs, it will cost the drug dealers more to recruit the mules - suddenly the price of doing business is much higher.

[NiGHTFuRY]

Those "Bali 9" mules look like they may and well get the bullet. Their last appeal failed and they apparently have only one more to go. The only way for them to be saved is maybe top level diplomacy, and even then, as drug mules our government might not be able to get them off.

I'll go on the record as saying I'm not at all comfortable with the death penalty, as much as I wouldn't think it would be a proud thing to have as a Western Australian punishment option. I don't like it, and I feel it's state stanchioned murder. I perfer more the actual sentence of life, so when someone rightly is convicted of a crime and gets a life sentence, they do a life sentence, never for release.

However as a parent, and in light of that recent murder of that young girl child in the shopping centre toilets, I can see that prick swinging from a noose a just punishment. Many are you guys are parents as well. How would you react??????

I know that a contradiction, but I wouldn't want to even imagine what that young murdered and sexual assault victims family, or anyone else's family has to go through with losing a family member in such a way, and not feel that the bastard who did it is still breathing. Maybe that is just a primal "eye for an eye" desire. I don't know.

Therein lies the difficulty of the death penalty. Is it more revenge driven or the true application of justice for convicted murderers who have knowingly disregarded our local societies standards.
Too me it certainly isn't a black and white issue and I think at some time before we are all very old or gone it may rise it's ugly head and become an issue again in Western Australia, perhaps the nation.

[Belnakor]

jail has never been about "rehabilitation" - its about punishing them. The death penalty is a good punishment, however if jails were truly "tough" i wouldn't mind people being stuck in there for life - but that rarely happens, and jail ends up being a cakewalk for these guys. Jail should be hard labor - not club med.

[freo grover]

I'm a firm supporter of the death penalty.
If these people who rape and kill young girls, bash and kill pensioners in their own homes and do untold harm to all those people just going about their daily business they do not deserve to be breathing. Of course their guilt must be 100% proven, when it is they should be either taken out back of the courtroom and shot there and then, or have their victims and their families take their time with them. They are scum and deserve to die.

[Kram81]

I'm against it. Imagine if Lindy Chamberlain had been hung for murder before being acquitted.

Maybe in very extreme cases like Martin Bryant, but the other way to look at is that the life he lives at the moment is a very miserable existence, death would be an easy way out for him. I suppose the other view is that it would save tax payers money in not having to keep him in prison.

[NiGHTFuRY]

How about the Bernie's?

[sabre_ac]

Thats mainly because the media gets hysterical about every time there is a fight in a nightclub where someone knocks their head after falling, and it always comes out as "My Johnny was just standing there minding his own business and someone came up and king hit him and now he's dead" but in reality it turns out to be "My Johnny was paralytic drunk, got into an argument with a stranger which resulted in a fight - Johnny fell back and hit his head".

If it is a pure "king hit" (and the media need to actually realize what a king hit is - if you are in an argument with someone and they end up punching you in the face thats not a "king hit") then that person should be charged and thrown in jail for a long long time - but thats rarely the case.

Ah Absolute rubbish.

The losers that hit people at night clubs are totally responsible for anyhing that happens to that person imediately after.

Plain and simple

[NiGHTFuRY]

Ah Absolute rubbish.

The losers that hit people at night clubs are totally responsible for anyhing that happens to that person imediately after.

Plain and simple

The shame of it sabre is that legal loopholes let these people walk scott-free nearly every time and they can go on with their life's with no punishment. It's just not natural justice. Maybe the death penalty is a little strong form them and their crime, but a long [15-25years]sentence should really be in order.

[Dyslexic Emo]

With me i'm totally against the taking of a humans life regardless of the crime. It's just not the way it should be done as there are many different ways to punish a person more fitting to the crime

For example, a rapist/peadophile. Castration is a fair punishment for them. Firstly the offender will never re-offend as his sexual organ has been removed thus losing all motivation and urges. After that imprison him for a determined amount of years and see how he copes. If he has shown rehabilitation and is not longer a threat to society (say when he's 80) and can no longer abuse anyone as he will be too old and decrepid then send him to some old foggies home and let him live out the rest of his miserable life.
For murderers/serial killers. I beleive we just pick an island somehwere and send them there. Obviously we provide them with the infrastructure such as housing, crops and basic human needs but that's it. They chose to not live as a member of society and thus should not enjoy the benefits of living in a society (technology), if they want to behave like animals then they can live like animals. And if they are as smart as they think they are well then maybe they will invent electricity or tv by themselves, but i very much doubt it. Oh and if your thinking that they might build a boat and sail back, simple Implant a chip that can monitor there location so if they do get back to mainland, give them a cup of milo and send em right back to where they came from. And once you think they have been therer long enough you can visit them and see if they are rehabilitated.

[dockers_bengals]

Death penalty to the murderers like dante,bernies and the guy in tassie where they are 100% positive.
Maybe we can send them on dangerous missions in the army like in Iraq finding landmines or escorting vehicles
D Emo do you mean like send them to Tassie:D.

[Dyslexic Emo]

Death penalty to the murderers like dante,bernies and the guy in tassie where they are 100% positive.
Maybe we can send them on dangerous missions in the army like in Iraq finding landmines or escorting vehicles
D Emo do you mean like send them to Tassie:D.

I like your idea about the clearing ofmines, Top stuff:thumbsu:. Nah not tassie, was thinking more along the lines of some random coco's island, nauru style island whereby the population now is like 2500 so we can just say ''give up your island and you can have australian citizenship' and then just ship in the crims. It's not like the natives there had any flash tv or technology sbut even if they did i'm sure they would want to take it with them when they arrive in austrlalia.

[Kram81]

For murderers/serial killers. I beleive we just pick an island somehwere and send them there. Obviously we provide them with the infrastructure such as housing, crops and basic human needs but that's it. They chose to not live as a member of society and thus should not enjoy the benefits of living in a society (technology), if they want to behave like animals then they can live like animals. And if they are as smart as they think they are well then maybe they will invent electricity or tv by themselves, but i very much doubt it. Oh and if your thinking that they might build a boat and sail back, simple Implant a chip that can monitor there location so if they do get back to mainland, give them a cup of milo and send em right back to where they came from. And once you think they have been therer long enough you can visit them and see if they are rehabilitated.

ROTFL:D

[stormee]

In response to the question, no, the death penalty will not solve any of the problems, and as a form of punishment is archaic and outmoded.

And also just as a sidenote, I get quite annoyed when the media bitches and moans on about these 'one punch murders'. You can talk all you want, but the accident defence available in the criminal code is a complex provision, and to prove a difference between the 'act' (the punch) and 'event' (the death, generally although this is highly debated) there is not a simple matter.

I agree that in these circumstances there should be some alternative offence to manslaughter such as a dangerous acts murder provision within the code, but when the media constantly clamours on about punishment, it is important to remember that there was no intention in any of these circumstances to kill or do greivous bodily harm and in all likelyhood the biggest punishment they will face is the burden of knowing they have killed a person. We already know one person's life has been ruined by a tragic accident, why imprison the accused and effectively ruin both of their lives? Punishment in those circumstances solves nothing I don't think. Sorry for my random rant but it really gets under my skin haha.

What really needs to be changed is the mental health provisions under the criminal code. Did you know that a person found unfit to stand trial can be held at the governor's pleasure without trial? And that if you are found to be not guilty due to mental defect or illness you will be held in remand, usually in a prison still for an indefinite period until the mental health board finds you fit to return to the community? Disgusting, our mental health system is a shambles, you are either max security or halfway house, there is no in between and hardly any paths to rehabilitation, and the state government either doesnt care or finds it low on the agenda, behind wastes of money like the convention centre. Anyway second rant over haha, by the way I am studying law so I get a little passionate about this stuff.


Anyway nice to meet you all, long time reader of the Freo boards and a passionate fan, but a rare poster. :D

[ep2006]

For those bashing the drugs and death penalty laws in other countries, don't. It is not our country, when we go there whether it be for holiday or work, we must abide by their laws, so if we go to Indonesia etc we must follow their rules, and if you don't want your final moments hanging off a rope then don't mess with drugs there!

I'm a fence sitter in regards to the death penalty. On one hand, how can we show that murdering is wrong when we end up killing them in the first place? The other, it is pretty scary having a murderer/rapist let back onto the streets after they have served their sentence.

[rockape]

i beleive we should have the death penalty in w.a . mainly for ppl like those burnies that raped and killed them girls. ppl like that should deserve to die by hanging or castration

[docker_azza]

Ah Absolute rubbish.

The losers that hit people at night clubs are totally responsible for anyhing that happens to that person imediately after.

Plain and simple

Hear hear.

[Rambo Stallone]

i beleive we should have the death penalty in w.a . mainly for ppl like those burnies that raped and killed them girls. ppl like that should deserve to die by hanging or castration

And We should get the Hawks to do the castration as we know they love to hold it,lol.

[Belnakor]

In response to the question, no, the death penalty will not solve any of the problems, and as a form of punishment is archaic and outmoded.

And also just as a sidenote, I get quite annoyed when the media bitches and moans on about these 'one punch murders'. You can talk all you want, but the accident defence available in the criminal code is a complex provision, and to prove a difference between the 'act' (the punch) and 'event' (the death, generally although this is highly debated) there is not a simple matter.


It seems to be it is too hard to prove it wasn't an accident. Considering how many of these thugs are getting off its obvious the criminal code needs to change. The king-hit that leaves someone with a broken jaw should be a serious jailable offense - 5+ years for such an act of thuggery - i don't care if it was spur on the moment. And if they kill someone doing it, double it on the spot.

The argument that ends up a brawl is different - if it truly is an argument and both sides were mouthing off i can understand weaker punishments... but the king hit should phased out by harsh sentencing.


I agree that in these circumstances there should be some alternative offence to manslaughter such as a dangerous acts murder provision within the code, but when the media constantly clamours on about punishment, it is important to remember that there was no intention in any of these circumstances to kill or do greivous bodily harm and in all likelyhood the biggest punishment they will face is the burden of knowing they have killed a person. We already know one person's life has been ruined by a tragic accident, why imprison the accused and effectively ruin both of their lives? Punishment in those circumstances solves nothing I don't think. Sorry for my random rant but it really gets under my skin haha.


This crap about how "they feel really bad they have killed someone" is a load of shit - most of these guys are just thugs who king hit someone in a bar because they didn't like the look of them - just not good enough. And the worst thing is, almost all of these scum have criminal records for assault, they have had other fights that just happened to not turn out badly, and the judge has left them off with a slap on the wrist.

Its just not good enough that the judges are giving weak sentences for things like assault, slap on the wrists and these thugs are at it again - they don't feel sorry, they couldn't give a shit. The only thing they care about is now they can't cruise around in their monaro and do burnouts for a couple of years - thats the only remorse you'll get from them.

[kuepper]

Until anyone can clearly demonstrate that this sort of penalty in any way affects the crime occurring to begin with, the possible offset of topping the innocent is simply too heinous to begin with.

None of the psychotics like the Bernies etc would have not done it with threat of the death penalty - and look at the US, does it stop anyone?

Barbaric and any 'eye for an eye' arguements are as bad as those that committ the crimes to begin with.

An emphatic NO for mine.