"I get sick of the people who argue capital punishment is "cruel and unusual." Locking somebody up for life, especially if -- as in this kind of case -- it will be in the form of solitary confinement called "protective custody." That, to me is cruel. People are social beings, whether or not they abuse the rules. I think life in isolation would be worse than death."

That should be up to the criminal. I'd MUCH rather live a life in isolation, than die - if I was the one convicted, how could you possibly say that it'd be less cruel to kill me? That makes no sense. You can't take a life... whatever the reason.

And, besides, as LH earlier said "Neither capital punishment nor changes in the law will end the imperfections of life." The death of a criminal, no matter how heinous the crime, does no good to the victim or anyone else. And... violence begets violence.

"Hostilities aren't stilled through hostility, regardless.
Hostilities are stilled through non-hostility:
This, an unending truth."
(The Buddha, Dhammapada 5)