Mark Middleton Situation Underscores The Need For Death Penalty For Murder

On the eve of Mark Middleton’s sentencing, Party Leader Graham Capill has called upon the Government to consider reintroducing the death penalty for murder in circumstances such as these: where there can be no doubt who has committed the offence.

Mr Capill said, “Mark Middleton’s case underscores the frustration many victims and their families experience. Too often the legal system is simply not a justice system.

“If the murderer of Karla Cardno had been executed or imprisoned for life, and if a life sentence meant just that, Mark Middleton would not have had to make threats and would not be before the court tomorrow. The irony is that our legal system has chosen to protect the offender but not the victim’s family.

“While no one should excuse vigilante behaviour, it is time for other political parties to stop the rhetoric and act in the interest of victims. They need to confront urgently the stupidity of our weak justice system.

“Capital punishment addresses the hurt of victims and protects all citizens from those who treat human life with utter contempt.

“While a vocal minority are concerned about the possibility of putting innocent people to death, our well ordered justice system can ensure adequate checks and balances are put in place to prevent this. The government has a duty in this regard,” Mr Capill stated.

Christian Heritage policy requires a unanimous jury decision based on the evidence of at least two reliable eyewitnesses. In all other cases, we regard life imprisonment, (that is the full term of natural life) the appropriate sentence for murder.

“The only way to satisfy the justifiable outrage that Mark Middleton and his family feel is for the murderer to be executed, or imprisoned for his natural life. While Christian Heritage does not condone Mark Middleton’s threats, they are understandable given the lily-livered response other parties have given to the public’s demand to feel secure from people like Dally. It is time to take decisive action.” Mr Capill concluded.

Contact: Party Leader Graham Capill, Direct Line: (03) 352 6720 or (021) 661 766

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>