'hanging is too good for him' applies here.

Secondly he will be seen as a martyr (Zany Mouse)

That is in a nutshell what I consider one often read wrong argument in this case. If on the one hand life imprisonment is seen as the worse punishment (In comparison to a quick death) why then should he only become a martyr when killed quickly?

Of course he would perceived being a martyr even with life imprisonment. My fantasy sees him in hunger strike against (real or imagined or, most likely, for propaganda purposes invented) mistreatment. Hugh demonstrations would plead for his release (in particulr, when he gets visibly older). People would be abducted with the demand of his release in exchange. The videos of the decapitations would be available in the net. Human Rights Watch would write articles about how he suffers (being propaganda fed by followers). Etc.

I consider the martyr argument as wrong, also from our experience. The German Neonazis rallied for the freedom of Hess who served a life sentence. The already dead Nazi leaders were mostly forgotten but a campaign for the release of a more than 90 year old men after decades of solitary confinement made some impression. Even his death had some propaganda value as "murder by the state". Who do you guess gets fresh flowers on his grave at his birthday? Hess, of course.

Wolfgang