Nine children among 16 dead after US serviceman attacks villagers

[JMA]

Random thoughts on this.

The future snake eater posts remind me of a closing argument a prosecutor used in a murder case I read about in the paper. There was no doubt about the defendant's guilt, but the complicating factor was he had escaped before being sent to the penitentiary. He was on the run for many years and during that time had led an exemplary, even admirable life. The defense case (as best as I can remember) was what you would have expected, "This is a fine man, already reformed and no threat to society, what good would it do to send him to jail?". The prosecution responded with "How many free murders do you get in your life?". The jury convicted. Future snake eater apparently thinks 16 is a good number.

I asked in another thread... "I mean does a sane person commit rape and murder? The death penalty should be obligatory in such cases."

The legal view and the medical view is yes.

It's just plain wrong IMHO.

To go out and shoot 16 people (including women and children) you have to be crazy.

...but then they say you can't sentence crazy people to death?

Another 'own goal'!

He was a good guy, went crazy, did crazy stuff ... now top him... and be quick about it!