DEATH PENALTY JOLIEN VERBRUGGEN JEF VERCAMMEN. Death Penalty Definition Examples »Jesus (33), Joan Of Arc (1431), »Che Guevarra (1967), Timothy McVeigh.

DEATH PENALTY

JOLIEN VERBRUGGENJEF VERCAMMEN

Death Penalty

Definition Examples

» Jesus (33), Joan Of Arc (1431), » Che Guevarra (1967), Timothy McVeigh

(2001), Saddam Hussein (2006)

Movies» The Green Mile» The Life Of David Gale » Dead Man Walking

Books» Charles Dickens (A Tale Of Two Cities)» Victor Hugo (The Last Day Of A Condemned

Man)

Death Penalty in USA

Sanctioned by 37 of the 50 states By the federal government and the military Different laws No executions under the age of 18 Controversial issue 1098 executions since the reinstatement in 1976 67% overturned 7% of the overturned sentences have been acquitted

Death Penalty in UK

1st method introduced: 5th Century» Hanging by the neck

1770-1830: England and Wales» 35,000 death sentences

» 7,000 carried out

Abolished for murder in 1965

On statute book until 1998» Treason

» Espionage

» Piracy with violence

Death Penalty in UK

After abolition for murder » Parliament free vote restoration of capital punishment. » Always defeated

Last woman executed: » Ruth Ellis (July 13th 1955)

Last executions: 1964 » Peter Anthony Allen and Gwynne Owen Evans» Murder of John Alan West

In the rest of the world

After World War II» A lot of countries abolish death penalty

Comparison» 1977: 16 countries were abolitionist » Currently: countries are abolitionist

64 countries retain death penalty Where?

» Especially in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.)» Africa» Middle East

European Union» Against Death Penalty

Death Penalty in the world

Methods of execution

Decapitation/Beheading» What? Removal of living organism’s head» Axe, sword, knife, wire» Honourable death» Relatively painless

Electrocution» What? Electrodes placed on the body» US and Philippines» 1886» New, more human way to replace hanging» 1889: AC Electric Chair

Methods of execution

Firing Squad» Times of war» Blindfoolded/hooded + restrained» All members: fire simultaneously

No interruption of procees No identification of lethal shot

Gas Chamber» Poisonous or asphyxiant gas

Carbon Monoxide Carbon Dioxide Hydrogen Cyanide

» 1920s US» Holocaust Genocide Program

Methods of execution

Hanging» 1st method of execution in UK» Lethal suspension of a person by a ligature » Different methods

Lethal Injection» Injecting a fatal doses of poisonous drugs» More human 20th century» Method

Induce rapid unconsciousness Paralysis of respiratory muscles Induce cardiac arrest through depolarization of cardiac muscle cells

Other

PRO Death Penalty

The death penalty frightens potential criminals

The cost for society is less

Chance for convict to regain freedom after good behaviour

You prevent that this criminal restarts his crimes

Executions these days are more ‘human’ then ever.

An eye for an eye.

AGAINST Death Penalty

Irreversible: some convicts are innocent

Racist

Death penalty does not deter crime

Prevents the opportunity for rehabilitation, repair, redemption, & restoration

The person who does the execution is also a murderer

Discussion

Do you think death penalty scares people of committing a serious crime?

What do you think is the worst punishment: life imprisonment or capital punishment? Why?

Why should someone’s life be ended, when they can also get life imprisonment?

On the other hand, you can also think: how can the convict be punished when he/she is dead?

There are people who commit (little) crimes to get in prison. Do think that prisons are getting more and more free hotels.

Discussion

Sometimes people are also influenced by their social environment, do you think the judge and jury should take that in account when reaching its verdict?

Some states in the USA brought back the death penalty as a solution for the overpopulated prisons. Do you think that’s a good idea and why (not)? If you are against it, what would be a good alternative to solve the problem?

This one is for the people who support the death penalty! For which crimes would you prosecute someone to the death penalty?

Discussion

Is the murderer who gives the lethal injection also a murderer or not? Why?

A lot of people found it horrible when Saddam Hussein got hung up. Some even had mercy with him when they saw the pictures of his dead. What do you think of the case? Keep in mind that Saddam was responsible for the dead of thousands of Iraqis.

Thank you