In what sense were Bentley's and Ethel Rosenberg's death sentences "correct," Sapper82? A more fitting term for both cases would be "preposterous."

Bentley's conviction and sentence relied on the statement "Let him have it," the significance of which was much debated in his trial, but which in fact he never made. Nothing was proved in Ethel Rosenberg's trial that could have warranted the death penalty in any civilised society, and so far as I know - PDQ's fantasies notwithstanding - nothing has emerged to justify that sentence retrospectively.

The fact that the sons have "confessed" their father's guilt doesn't count for much in my book. Their views are not likely to be more reliable than anyone else's. In the present instance it is the change of heart by Sobell a few days ago that is significant.