Fair play to John on the Sunset Coast. His may be a lonely voice here, but he articulates a view shared by millions on both sides of tha Atlantic. However he has already moderated his view in light of this debate, and may yet be persuaded to go another step.

Earlier he said: "If the last several executions have not gone well...." This falls far, far short of the reality, John. Since Gregg v Georgia in 1976 (at which point the US became the first and only nation to go back to capital punishment having previously abandoned it) many dozens of executions have gone horribly wrong. A Colorado University prof has collated 46 ghastly examples, making it clear that his list is nothing like exhaustive. When one digs into the detail behind these cases, it is evident that they have many times been life-changing for participants and audiences alike. It is diquieting enough just to read about them.

One of the most striking features for me is the large number of instances in which the curtain has come down mid-execution, or the witnesses have been ushered out. The ghoulish aspect whereby executions are attended by invited audiences is justified on the basis that justice must be seen to be done. So censoring the spectacle can only be an acknowledgement that justice has failed. If those who agree to attend were required to sit through the whole show, the professor's list could never have reached 46.