Derek Bentley 1953. Posthumously pardoned in 1993.Originally Posted by Dedworth
Ruth Ellis. After a 14 minute deliberation of the jury. Manslaughter due to extreme provocation was denied despite years of violent abuse and a miscarriage just before the killing caused by being punched her in the stomach.
Sadly diminished responsibility was not within legislation at that time.
Timothy Evans 1950. It was later discovered that the murder of his wife and daughter was committed by his neighbour. A serial killer named John Christie.
A Royal pardon (posthumously) granted in 1966.
George Kelly 1950. Conviction overturned in 2003.
Mahmood Hussein Mattan 1952. Crucial eyewitness evidence omitted from court. Court of Appeal 1998 found the case “demonstrably flawed”.
I'm not totally against capital punishment, but how to be sure it's not against innocent people.
Hardly the good old days IMO
Maybe these days we have a better chance of avoiding errors but the question is how?
Personally I'd rather see them face a future of misery behind bars without chance of parole rather than a humane end to life.
I don't accept the deterrent argument either.
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