Public speaks out on issue of hanging

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Charles Elroy Laplace

Charles Elroy Laplace, also known as Al Laplace, was executed in accordance with the law as punishment for the murder of his wife of 10 years, Diana Laplace. The murder occurred in 2004 and the man was convicted two years later and sentenced to death.

At 8:00 on the morning of December 19, 2008, Laplace was hanged within the walls of Her Majesty’s Prison, Basseterre and his remains buried therein.

Prior to the execution there seemed not to be much buzz, but many comments were made following his death and the majority of them were in support of the execution.

SKNVibes took to the streets of Basseterre to glean the public’s opinion on the hanging which was the Federation’s first after a 10-year lapse.

“I think they are doing the right thing about the hanging. I think it would serve to decrease crime in the Federation. Some people don’t want to die and if they see they start hanging I believe they would change their mind from killing people,” one woman opined.

Another female, who appeared unyielding in her stance, supported the death penalty and noted that even if it were her son to be hanged the deed should be done.

“The person that was hanged was supposed to have been hanged a long time ago. I believe if he wasn’t hanged we would have had another murder. I realise from time they hanged someone no one else died. All who are supposed to be hanged let them hang them. It could be my child...once he does anything wrong, hang him.”

As simply expressed by one gentleman, “I believe hanging will make the bad boys frighten and the killings will stop.”

Persons who are murdered leave family members, including children, to mourn their death and one woman expressed that the death penalty would cause potential wrong-doers to think about all possible consequences of their actions.

“I agree with hanging because why should you take a like and you know you there are those who will suffer because of your actions? The others on death row should have been hanged already!  They need to hang the others and those who want to join them, let them get it.”

Another citizen explained that with the expiration of a 10-year period since the last hanging in the Federation, criminals seemed to have gotten content with the idea of carrying out senseless killings. He further expressed that if other efforts have failed in lowering the level of crime in the Federation, the death penalty would bring about some change.

“I support the death penalty, definitely! We tried all kinds of things before and, to be honest, I believe the criminals were becoming content with the idea of just killing people. I believe knowing now that their lives would actually be on the line, they would think twice about it. I honestly believe it would act as a deterrent.”

While in support of the death penalty, the gentleman said the execution of it must be supported by better investigations into criminal activities.

“I do support the death penalty but I definitely need the level of crime investigations to be stepped up, because we need to ensure that we don’t hang the wrong individual because it is a life.”

Reflecting on the 23 murders that occurred during this year, another individual told SKNVibes that this could not be tolerated and the execution of the death penalty would cause those with mal-intentions to give serious consideration to all possible outcomes of their actions.

“I believe hanging is a real deterrent, and for persons who normally are involved in these gang-related activities in which murder is the ultimate vengeance, they will now have to reconsider the penalty; in that, if they have to go to court and be prosecuted and convicted, not only would they spend time in prison but the death penalty could be implemented. This is especially with the public becoming more vigilant and concerned about having these guys taken out. As you listen to more and more persons talking about the death penalty, you realise that the public at large is in favour of it because we cannot tolerate 23 murders in one year and ask ourselves who is going to be next.” ~~Adz:Right~~

One of the world’s most popular human rights activist groups, Amnesty International issued a press release on Laplace’s hanging condemning and referring to it as a “shameless act”.

An article carried by this media house on Amnesty’s release concerning Laplace’s hanging has caused several to comment registering and or reiterating their support for the death penalty while expressing their disapproval of Amnesty’s “interference”.

“I am totally outraged at Amnesty International for meddling in the internal affairs of my independent country. They have absolutely no solutions for the crime problems in the country. Hanging that man was a just and fair act.”

“Amnesty international need to keep out. They don’t live here and they are certainly not providing any assistance to tackle this crime problem in our Federation. We have tried everything else and the problem keeps getting worse. Why they don’t worry themselves about the innocent people who are getting killed in these forms of genocide all over the world. They just talk and we need solutions. The US and other regions carry out capital punishment & we not going to allow those TALKERS to affect us.”

“When a country has reached a certain level of development in which the state is very financially stable and the resources for proper crime prevention are present such as forensics, etc. and the rate of crime has been brought under control, then maybe they can think about abandoning the death penalty. The Caribbean is not such a region. Crime has been spiraling out of control due to the mindset that nothing can be done to the perpetrators. We, unlike Europe, etc., cannot abandon death penalty.”

“Where is Amnesty International when our Federation is being plagued by gang violence, violence against women and such crimes? It is always easy to judge when you are not in the situation where it affects you directly. Let Amnesty International come and feel the pain of the families devastated by the crimes such as this. The victims had rights too and those were violated by their killers. It is grossly unfair to rush in to protect those who have no regard for others.”