I am very elated that Parliament voted to retain hanging. I am hoping that they will now start hanging these criminals who have committed gruesome murders.

The executive director of Jamaicans for Justice Dr Carolyn Gomes does not understand what it is to lose a loved one at the hands of these criminal elements in the society. She has not had the devastating moment of identifying one of her children at a crime scene. I did on December 31, 2005, in the back of my vehicle where he was shot in the left eye, stomach and back at the age of 25, a young man that was loving, bright and full of potential - gone.

Crime scene

It is a crippling feeling and for days, months and years the picture plays back in your mind of what took place before, at the crime scene, at the post mortem etc. There is no more Merry Christmas and Happy New year for many of us.

Of course, the justice system needs reforming, because the persons allegedly responsible for the death of my son, the late Jamie Lue, former financial analyst of Alliance Investment Limited, were found and have been imprisoned from February 2006. However, the trial has not yet started.

I am, etc.,

ANGELA SOUTAR

angela.soutar@svlotteries.com.