Having just watched the last in the Lord of the Rings saga I am reminded of a little of Gandalfs wisdom. OK - I know he is a fictional characted but I think is a good point non the less.

"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many- yours not least."


- Gandalf to Frodo Baggins. In answer to Frodo saying Gollum deserved to die

Cheers

Dave the Gnome
(No - I did not remember it verbatim. I looked it up on the web of course!)