I'm usually dubious about the death penalty. I don't believe it provides a deterrent to murder.
I agree, but I've often wondered if state sanctioned death by torture would be a deterrent. Not that I'd support such a thing (well, in this case I probably would), but I'm just curious.
I'm serious. If you know that you're going to die slowly and painfully over, say, a 72 hour period, would you be as quick to commit murder?
Well, I'm sure it wouldn't deter the true psychos.