Still believe in the death Penalty?

[Calgaryborn]

As I've said before I am very much in favour of capital punishment. You choose to take a life; your life should be forfeited. However, I don't believe a life should be taken in an accidental death even if there was gross neglect involved. In those cases the punishment should be proportional to the neglect. Also, the person should be banished from the province where the crime took place for the benefit of the victims family.

I have some deep reservations about science's knowledge of mental illness. The science is young and I'm sure 50 years from now many of the accepted truths today will be questioned and some rejected or changed. That being said I do know that schizophrenia is well documented as a disease. If that is what led to him committing the murder there is no way he should be sentenced to death. If he was capable of recognizing the on-set of mental episode and did nothing than he should have some criminal responsibility but, not death.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I have some deep reservations about science's knowledge of mental illness. The science is young and I'm sure 50 years from now many of the accepted truths today will be questioned and some rejected or changed. That being said I do know that schizophrenia is well documented as a disease. If that is what led to him committing the murder there is no way he should be sentenced to death. If he was capable of recognizing the on-set of mental episode and did nothing than he should have some criminal responsibility but, not death.

When my deceased friend flipped out and starting choking his mother nobody in the family knew he was having a psychotic episode. It took a trip to his GP and then a psychiatrist before it was determined he was schizophrenic. Thing is most people wouldn't recognise the episode for what it was. They'd be wondering why a mild mannered person would suddenly flip out.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Dion

When my deceased friend flipped out and starting choking his mother nobody in the family knew he was having a psychotic episode. It took a trip to his GP and then a psychiatrist before it was determined he was schizophrenic. Thing is most people wouldn't recognise the episode for what it was. They'd be wondering why a mild mannered person would suddenly flip out.

Well if he had killed her obviously he would have bore no legal responsibility. How could he if he didn't even know of his disease?

His freedom should have been dependant on a medical evaluation that would determine if his disease could be controlled outside an institution to the extent that he wouldn't be a danger to himself or others.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Well if he had killed her obviously he would have bore no legal responsibility. How could he if he didn't even know of his disease?

Sadly this is how some people discover they have schizophrenia. Luckily when his brother phoned he sensed something was wrong by the tone of his voice. The police were dispatched and arrived in time to save the mothers life.

His freedom should have been dependant on a medical evaluation that would determine if his disease could be controlled outside an institution to the extent that he wouldn't be a danger to himself or others.

Exactly. He was in and out of the hospital as his condition often changed and his meds needed adjustment. His father owned a tire shop and he had the flexibility to work when he felt well enough. Today he might have had a better chance as i hear the meds for schizo's are much better.

[Dion]

double post