h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4972184.stm

The case of "Al-Qaeda plotter" Zacarias Moussaoui who has been ordered to spend his life in jail without the possibility of parole for his role in the 11 September attacks in a max security jail, in solitary confinement, in a small room with concrete furniture, an small black and white TV and EAST printed on the wrong wall(OK, I made up the EAST bit...but wouldn't it be funny!!!).

Many people in America are complaining he is not getting the death sentence as that is what he deserved and justice would be served.

I disagree they are missing some obvious points.

In his warp twisted mind he would be becoming a martyr and (quite possibly) have 72 virgins awaiting him.

Also, he is going to spend the rest of his life being bored stiff and, hopefully, very slowly, losing his mind. Isn't THAT superb retribution and revenge? Much better than just killing someone, no suffering at all there. He will also p*ss off David Blaine as it is probably on his list of shite things to do to make cash and keep the publicity going.

Why is he getting a TV?

"In his warp twisted mind he would be becoming a martyr and (quite possibly) have 72 virgins awaiting him."

I think that's exactly why this hasn't been done (assuming there's not some other reason, I know the death penalty works on a state-by-state basis in the USA) - compare and contrast with Timothy McVeigh in which Clinton made clear from the start that those convicted would be looking at the death penalty.

Actually, it has done due to the court system. It was not a unanimous decision so they could not give the death penalty.

> Why is he getting a TV?

The TVs in this particular prison don't show regular television programming -- it's a closed-circuit TV that shows things like anger management classes, literacy classes, meditation, and religious services.

Why is he getting a TV?

Endless repeats, or wall-to-wall Jerry Springer, hopefully.

Anger management TV shows! Brilliant. Do they sign off every night with the the US national anthem played over a backdrop of bald eagles and F-16 fighters flying over the grand canyon?

They are also missing the very obvious point that killing people is wrong.

There are so many negatives against the death penalty is beggars belief it is still active in most of the US. What are its positives? Are there any?

Ste

>> What are its positives?

The warm glow of vengeance extracted with maximum humiliation and spectacle.

The thought of a human walking into a room with the sole intention of injecting another human with (IIRC) an anaesthetic that may or may not work, followed by a drug that will paralyse him, followed by a drug that will kill him, appalls me. To be honest it's beyond my comprehension.

Heh. If they're going to have executions they should HAVE to have them in a fully public setting - like the town square/city centre/downtown or whereever. Each execution, when being performed should HAVE to be carried on every TV channel for the few last minutes of the prisoners lives.

Perhaps then people would realise the consequences of their support for this barbaric act.

Ste

shades of Heinlein. Also, if you're doing the death penalty as a deterent, why not maximize the message?

Actually, contrary to the opinion that they didn't give him the death penalty in order not to fulfill his supposed desire to be a martyr, he was given life because the jurors weighed over 100 questions about his crimes, supposed and real motives, his actual involvement in the 9/11 attackes (nil) and other crimes and rendered their votes on these questions.

In fact, the jurisdiction in which the trial took place has never, in its history, had a jury render a death penalty in a Captial case. This was known when the jurisdiction was chosen as a venue. TPTB obviously either expected this decidion or were naive to think that history would change in this case.

The death penalty has been repeatedly shown not to be effective as a deterrent.

The main "positive" about the death penalty I hear repeatedly from those in criminal justice is that the existence of the death penalty encourages criminals to plea bargain and plead guilty, thus saving the system a lot of money by reducing court costs and appeals.

In my books, not a good enough reason for it, especially since we also have plenty of proof that it is not applied equally -- class and race can play a bigger role than the severity of the crime.

<>

His lawyers seem pretty sure he already has lost his mind, and from what I've heard, I tend to agree. What, by the way, did he *do* to merit either death or life in prison? Is he not just a fantasist? Can someone actually be convicted of a crime, for their (possible) intentions?

The whole thing smells rather more than Denmark did in Hamlet, especially all the propaganda-like testimony from 911 victims during Moussaui's trial. Did their emotional witness prove anything towards M's guilt?

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IMO, none whatsoever...

(Oh for multiquote!)

your ignorance on the subject smells like Denmark in Hamlet...

Actually, Della has a point in that their testimony had nothing whatever to do with proving wehther or not he had anything to do with the 9/11 events or any other event.... As none of them would have any personal knowledge of him or his involvement in the events, there was no earthly use for their appearance in court.

Had they proven his connection to 9/11 their impact statements would have had bearing on the sentencing. I am not sure why the court allowed their testimony.

Ahh, Mudhooks, you conveniently ignore the central tenet of her post...

Translations from Della-ese: an occasional service brought to you to aid in comprehension.

In the posting above, for the Della-ese phrase "Oh for multiquote!", please substitute the English phrase "Oh for the brain power and coordination to be able to press Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V!".

Thank you.

SoRB