# So what should happen to these two defendants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740 "2010-09-14T17:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/321 "2012-09-12T20:26:46Z")
Just bumping this thread with a link to an article about Dr. Petit’s August [wedding](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20619580,00.html) If anyone deserves a second chance at happiness, it’s Dr. Petit. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/322 "2012-09-12T20:40:14Z")
Capital punishment is wrong, always and everywhere. There are no exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/323 "2012-09-12T22:06:24Z")
We mustn’t be too dogmatic about these things. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/324 "2012-09-12T22:12:11Z")
I vote for the death penalty, I mean how do you put a zombie in prison for life? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/325 "2012-09-12T22:23:04Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > We mustn’t be too dogmatic about these things. We shouldn’t put dogs to death either! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/326 "2012-09-12T23:39:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > We shouldn’t put dogs to death either! Give me one good reason why not. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/327 "2013-07-19T12:39:44Z")
Update on the Hawke-Petit home invasion and murders. The murderers, Komisarjevsky and Hayes, remain on death row. (When Gov. Rell vetoed a bill ending the death penalty in Connnecticut, she mentioned this case.) Dr. Petit [remarried](http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2012/08/06/news/doc501ff564d4a7f214714500.txt) last year, with the blessing of his late wife’s parents. His story was featured in [Esquire magazine](http://www.esquire.com/features/william-petit-murders-revisited-0513) earlier this year. And at 9pm on Monday, HBO will present a [documentary](http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-cheshire-murders/index.html) on the case. Per the [review](http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/06/09/news/doc51b3fde7c2ecf587673359.txt) in the New Haven Register, the documentary will criticize the actions (or lack thereof) of the Cheshire Police. Remember that one of the criminals drove Ms. Hawke-Petit to the bank to withdraw money. While standing at the bank, she told the teller what was happening to her family. The teller, of course, called 911. So the police knew about the situation while Ms. Hawke-Petit and her daughters were still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/328 "2013-07-19T14:14:42Z")
A horrible crime, to b sure. But killing anyone else won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It won’t save anyone else’s life. All it will do is slake our thirst for vengeance. That’s a horrible reason to take a human’s life. Life with no parole. Hopefully, someone will see fit to commute these sentences. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/329 "2013-07-19T15:00:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > A horrible crime, to b sure. > > But killing anyone else won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It won’t save anyone else’s life. > > All it will do is slake our thirst for vengeance. That’s a horrible reason to take a human’s life. > > Life with no parole. > > Hopefully, someone will see fit to commute these sentences. I respectfully disagree with all but the first two lines. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/330 "2013-07-22T15:45:08Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > A horrible crime, to b sure. > > But killing anyone else won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It won’t save anyone else’s life. > > All it will do is slake our thirst for vengeance. That’s a horrible reason to take a human’s life. > > Life with no parole. > > Hopefully, someone will see fit to commute these sentences. Life without parole won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It might maybe save someone else’s life. All it will definitely do is slake our thirst for vengeance. That’s a horrible reason to keep someone locked up forever. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/331 "2013-07-22T15:52:10Z")
It will keep them from killing anyone else, which is the primary role of the penal system. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/332 "2013-07-23T03:25:30Z")
If you click on the link now it brings you to a picture of Charles and Camilla. Oh yeah, the Petit killers. If any people deserve the death penalty it’s them. Same with the Knoxville carjackers. Even if they had gotten life without parole maybe in a few decades the supreme court will say that 21 years is a maximum sentence and let them go, since the Supreme Court has kept softening maximum sentences for things over the years. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/333 "2013-07-23T03:50:34Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > If you click on the link now it brings you to a picture of Charles and Camilla. William and Katy for me. I’m still voting for hanging them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/334 "2013-07-23T04:51:28Z")
It’s the thread that keeps on giving. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/335 "2013-07-23T07:22:58Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Life without parole won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It might maybe save someone else’s life. > > All it will definitely do is slake our thirst for vengeance. That’s a horrible reason to keep someone locked up forever. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It will keep them from killing anyone else, which is the primary role of the penal system. Bingo. Life without parole is not intended to exact vengeance. It’s intended to protect society from any further depredations. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/336 "2013-07-23T07:40:44Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > A horrible crime, to b sure. > > But killing anyone else won’t erase the crimes. It won’t bring back anyone to life. It won’t save anyone else’s life. Isn’t that a straw man fallacy, though? (I haven’t looked at fallacy definitions in a while…) Nobody has ever said that executing these guys will erase a crime. Neither that it would bring anyone back to life. Saving a life? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t think that crimes of this nature are one-offs. Witness Ted Bundy. These guys deserve severe punishment. Life, anywhere, under any circumstances??? They took life/lives, and were not at all sad about it, and they even went out of their ways to give the victims false hope. They had a lot of time to think over their actions while they were committing their crime. A lot of time. Even at the risk of having a thirst slaked, these guys need to take the dirt nap. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/337 "2013-07-23T11:56:13Z")
Today is the sixth anniversary of the invasion and murders. Also, [here](http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-cheshire-tapes-20130722,0,1646536.story) is an article from the Hartford Courant reviewing tapes of calls placed to and from the police. The Cheshire police was suspicious of the story Ms. Hawke-Petit told the tellers, and later were preparing for stand-off at the house, which is why they didn’t act sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/338 "2013-07-23T13:43:54Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Isn’t that a straw man fallacy, though? (I haven’t looked at fallacy definitions in a while…) Nobody has ever said that executing these guys will erase a crime. Neither that it would bring anyone back to life. > > Saving a life? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t think that crimes of this nature are one-offs. Witness Ted Bundy. Yes, Bundy killed more than once, but following his conviction, he didn’t kill anyone. Because he was placed in prison, as opposed to jail. > [@](#): > > These guys deserve severe punishment. Life, anywhere, under any circumstances??? They took life/lives, and were not at all sad about it, and they even went out of their ways to give the victims false hope. They had a lot of time to think over their actions while they were committing their crime. A lot of time. > > Even at the risk of having a thirst slaked, these guys need to take the dirt nap. Why? Specifically, what purpose does it serve? I don’t wish to straw-man a reason, so you tell me: why? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/339 "2013-07-23T20:01:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It will keep them from killing anyone else, which is the primary role of the penal system. They couldn’t kill someone while in prison? Or are the lives of the other inmates and prison employees expendable. And you ever heard of [Willie Horton?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton) Maybe all the “life in prison” people should be willing to house these defendants and make sure they never kill again. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740/340 "2013-07-23T20:09:17Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > They couldn’t kill someone while in prison? Or are the lives of the other inmates and prison employees expendable. > > And you ever heard of [Willie Horton?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton) > > Maybe all the “life in prison” people should be willing to house these defendants and make sure they never kill again. I have to admit some confusion. If not the death penalty or a life sentence, then what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-happen-to-these-two-defendants/553740.md?page=18)