THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WISH to express my heartfelt sympathies to the parents of Shaneka and Shauna-Kay. Seek refuge in God and strength in the knowledge that they are gone to heaven untainted by the world. From God we came, and unto Him is our return.
The rape and murder of two little children are not crimes of passion, nor crimes of poverty. These crimes are so outrageous that they demand severe punishment.
Capital punishment is prescribed for the most heinous of crimes. The mothers of the little girls should not live in fear. What needs to be argued to our satisfaction is whether or not capital punishment is more compassionate in certain cases than life in prison. Some say that it can never be so, but I disagree. I would be terrified of the living horror of prison and transport vehicles and the real fear of it keeps me on the straight and narrow . The murderer isn't frightened of anything, however, not because he has nothing to lose, but because he doesn't know what he has to lose.
The causes of crime must be addressed extensively. What elements in our society are contributing to crime, and what should be done about it? This question is as important as the question of the death penalty if we are to reach the root of the problem and civilise our society.
I am, etc.,
A.M. ANSARI
stop1998@aol.com
Via Go-Jamaica
