Very interesting discussion this morning on BBC1's 'The Big Questions' about the meaning of 'compassion' and 'forgiveness', and their place in situations like this.

The parents of two young people who had been murdered gave their diametrically opposed views on forgiveness/compassion. THe couple who forgave came across as still very sad, but calm and 'at peace'. The father who refused to forgive appeared to be consumed by rage and personal feelings of guilt over what happened to his daughter.

A lesson there, IMHO. Compassion and forgiveness do not remove the responsibility for the crime from the perpetrator, he/she will always have that to live with. But, much more importantly, it does give those who grieve a means of moving on and coping with their loss.

I know which place I'd rather be in.