I wonder if Leej is making an assumption - widely held, particularly in the States - that victims' relatives will always be willing to pull the trigger, flick the switch or whatever? Sometimes - and maybe more likely in that part of the civilised world that is not the US - a victim or relative of a victim of crime will be inclined to forgive. The lust for vengeance is by no means automatic. In the UK forgiveness or some level of understanding has been the response to some exceptionally unpleasant crimes. Would you, Leej, in a case such as that, be comfortable with a victim's surviving relative deciding the punishment? It must surely be better in a democracy that punishments, and the carrying through of punishments, should be consistent with a code determined by the legislature and applied by an independent judiciary?
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