Chinese execution

Cool.

An over reaction from the BBC and I am supposed to lose sleep over it?

Why dont you go to a British court and watch drug criminals walk free?

And be proud to be British.

Why are the Chinese using lethal injection instead of a bullet?
Must be progress...

[ethariel]

Good riddance, another dealer in death and misery gets his comeuppance.

I just find it so comical these days that when people are convicted of an offence and after an appeal or two, things seem to still be against them that the 'Oh actually he/she is suffering from a previously un-detected mental illness! quick quash the conviction and let them go!' syndrome is appearing much more often now.

I suppose it's all Gary mcKinnons (sp) fault really, in his 2006 interviews there was never even the slightest suggestion that he was mentally ill at all, but later his whole defence moved to 'yes he did it but his previously un diagnosed illness made him do it'.

I just feel sorry for all the law abiding people with mental disorders who will get tarred with the 'I'm Bi-Polar therfore I'm a criminal just waiting to happen' brush.

Originally Posted by ethariel

Good riddance, another dealer in death and misery gets his comeuppance.

I just find it so comical these days that when people are convicted of an offence and after an appeal or two, things seem to still be against them that the 'Oh actually he/she is suffering from a previously un-detected mental illness! quick quash the conviction and let them go!' syndrome is appearing much more often now.

I suppose it's all Gary mcKinnons (sp) fault really, in his 2006 interviews there was never even the slightest suggestion that he was mentally ill at all, but later his whole defence moved to 'yes he did it but his previously un diagnosed illness made him do it'.

I just feel sorry for all the law abiding people with mental disorders who will get tarred with the 'I'm Bi-Polar therfore I'm a criminal just waiting to happen' brush.

+1

Originally Posted by ethariel

Good riddance, another dealer in death and misery gets his comeuppance.

I just find it so comical these days that when people are convicted of an offence and after an appeal or two, things seem to still be against them that the 'Oh actually he/she is suffering from a previously un-detected mental illness! quick quash the conviction and let them go!' syndrome is appearing much more often now.

I suppose it's all Gary mcKinnons (sp) fault really, in his 2006 interviews there was never even the slightest suggestion that he was mentally ill at all, but later his whole defence moved to 'yes he did it but his previously un diagnosed illness made him do it'.

I just feel sorry for all the law abiding people with mental disorders who will get tarred with the 'I'm Bi-Polar therfore I'm a criminal just waiting to happen' brush.

-1

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Ed

This is the whole point - there was no psychiatric report, and the Chinese refused access.

Ed, you are applying the British system of justice to the Chinese system and it does not fit. You choose to ignore my previous point because it undermines your argument. So this time it is not the 'he got what he deserved' brigade that are not listening

Whether you agree / disagree with the death penalty is not really the issue here, because it is a lawful sentence in China for the crime he was convicted of - it's not like he was singled out for special treatment.

The bi-polar defence does not stand in Chinese law because it was not diagnosed before his crime. In fact it has NEVER been diagnosed in this person. The Chinese state that they were not presented with evidence of mental illness for the above reason. I guess the claim by Reprieve of bi-polar after he was convicted is considered 'convenient' by them.

Im with Ed on this one.Im against the death penalty in principle

Why?

No I didn't choose to ignore anyone's post because it was inconvenient. I don't do selectivity, I didn't reply simply because I overlooked it

I D/K what happened at the trial in the lower court, I came to this when it started attracting media attention.

So Mike, your point first. About not having any evidence of mental disorder. We are talking about somebody's life here, and whether or not evidence was presented at a lower court seems irrelevant to me. Given the nature of the punishment, the Chinese - or any other country that administers it, the US, Saudi Arabia, wherever you like to nominate - should always be alert to potential miscarriages of justice at any stage of the proceedings. Just because it wasn't there to start with is a big so what, the point was raised later, and the Chinese dnied access to a qualified practitioner. If they had allowed access, then liberals like me would have less to complain about.

On your second point, that Chinese rules apply so we should accept the position, does the mere fact that it took place in China mean that execution is justified? I don't like it in the US either. I find state sanctioned execution abhorrent wherever it is, for the simple reason - which (now I've read beabert's post, I would explain: ) is based on Christian principles - that nobody has the right to take anyone else's life.

MBK thought that I had rather assumed too much or ignored her points too. MBK, I didn't say that you have zero knowledge but I am fairly sure that you have no knowledge about this particular individual and how mental incapacity, if it existed, affected his behaviour. I'm not interested in generalisms, you can't execute somebody on general principles.

On the point about carrying a lot of heroin, yes I agree - it's a huge amount. Is there any evidence though that he had done this before? I don't think you can simply assume the point. I haven't seen any evidence - but I'm happy to be corrected.

And YC thinks I take it all too personally. Chris, perhaps I do, but this is one issue where I have strong feelings. As I said up tops, I have been involved in litigation of one sort or another for about 20 years, and there is always something you can say for someone, no matter how disgusting, how odious they might appear, or how 'right' the other side's case might be.

Christian principles

Oh dear

The only valid reason i can see against the death penalty is that there might be a possibility that the person is not 100% guilty, personally i think its a bonus to die than spend life in a chinese prison.

Therefore death is the easy route out for them, let them be bored in prison the rest of there life.

Originally Posted by beabert

Oh dear

Explain yourself, please.

Personally I have mixed views on this as I am generally opposed to the death sentence. HOWEVER it is well known that China imposes the death penalty on anyone carrying more than 50 grams... this guy must have known that, this is a country where the death sentence is imposed for tax evasion and fraud!!!

This guy must have known the risks. The Chinese do not like being told what to do by outsiders so it was pointless our Government even trying.

My real point is that whilst some are outraged by the execution I`d argue that it`s this country`s leniency towards drug crimes that make this execution seem so severe. Yes China is ruthless when it comes to drug offences but they have nothing like the drug problems we have here in Britain and I think that in many ways this should be applauded.

Our own society is awash with widespread crime and violence caused by its leniency towards drug related offences, dealers and users know that they don`t really have anything to fear from our courts because our country lacks the moral strength to be more ruthless in the sentencing of drug dealers.

Maybe China have actually got it right... maybe their willingness to execute dangerous criminals is a sign of compassion towards it`s own people as it shows a government prepared to protect the vulnerable and promote morality.