If the UK increased it's prison population to US levels, our prison population would have to increase to 485,000 instead of the paltry 73,000 we have now. I'm sure with an extra 400,000 places to fill we could more or less eradicate habitual criminals (like the chap with 76 convictions) from society

Matt, Leeds, UK

For god's sake, of course the death penalty is a deterrent to murder. Don't know of anyone hanged who ever came back to kill again! Too many sob-sisters around these days!
And, I might add, there's been a few individuals I would have liked to dispatch in my time, but the death penalty deterred me.

Nick, London, UK

The point being, jayil, we can't re-impose the death penalty, like it or not. As Richard stated below, the Human Rights Act 1998 has explicitly abolished the death penalty.
The idea that criminals weigh up consequences of life terms or death penalty before deciding to commit crime, is ridiculous.

Damian, Reading, Berkshire

76 previous convictions?
The mind boggles.

mike rigby, blackburn,

it unfortunate or fortunate that he was caught. So if he was not caught your death penalty will not work. Capital punishment does not equate crime.

kareema, Bielefeld, Germany

so, Richard, you don't believe that people should be allowed to express opinions contrary to the law? to disagree with laws? you'd be better off moving to China. oh, no, i forgot. They have the death penalty there. And you perhaps wouldn't be allowed to disagree-perhaps you'd like it there after all

Marco, KrakOw, Polska

Forget this talk of death penalty. That's the mindset of the same barbaric attitudes of the killers. But it seems that we have an increasing problem with wife and women killers in the Muslim community. Forget PC. A long sentence reflecting the severity of the crime, then deportation is the answer.

Logdon, Stockport,

They are not an 'Asian' couple. Nasri is Lebanese whereas Nisha Patel is of Indian origin.

Kara Swart, London, UK

For God's sake, it infuriates me when people say that murderers, rapists etc should receive the death penalty. The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the ECHR into Englsh law. For that reason alone the death penalty cannot apply. The death penalty is not a deterrant just look at death row in the US

Richard, London, UK

Good to see some nice rational responses as usual...

Mickey, London,

Is there any point in having scum like this in the human race? A bit or pruning is needed and the death penalty is the way to do it. But we're too wussy and politically correct to get it back now, aren't we?

David, Bathurst, Australia

One presumes the death penalty doesn't stimulate murder etc. If not, then at worst it is neutral. But one also presumes that at least one person somewhere must have been deterred by its existence. Therefore it must be a deterrent - de facto. Ergo the question is not "if" it's a deterent but how much

Billy Barnett, HK,

Why should the already stretched taxpayer fund these people to live out their lives in jail?? Hang them all!

One of these individuals has 76 previous convictions - 76!! No doubt claiming benefits and working cash in hand to boot.

Sarah, Gurgaon, India

The actual killer, Jones, had 76 previous convictions. He should have been locked up for life long ago. ALL habitual criminals should be permanently removed from society, even if this would require 300,000 or more prison places. This is the only way to protect the innocent.

john, exeter, england

"There are lies, damn lies and then there are statistics"

No death penalty thank you.

Kate, Sydney,

@Ramesh Panda, your good God will forgive him for his crime but was powerless in preventing it in the first place? Not much of a God, is he?

David, Sheffield, UK

Statistically, the death penalty appears to have deterrent value when the punishment follows quickly after the crime. Western culture has added so many protections to the accused (and I'm not criticizing that), the time is now impossibly long to have deterrent value.

This is not a simple problem...

Dan'l, Portland, US

And I thought most of the crimes committed were in my
country USA...but I guess such criminals do not have any
conscience.

Ricky, Stoneham, USA

The only thing you'll achieve with the death penalty is making sure the same person doesn't commit another crime. It's not putting people off doing atrocious things. If someone wants to kill you, he will do it. Murderers don't go "Hm, for 10 years I'll do it, for life/electric chair I won't.".

Tom, Newcastle, UK

We dont have the death penalty in this country so no he shouldnt be executed, but left to rot in jail.

Having the death penalty makes absolutely no difference to crime rates. I would rather not take the risk of killing an innocent...

max, London, UK

I know the death penalty is a very controversial issue, but surely it would dramatically lower the number of murders committed? Good point, jayil.

Miranda, belfast,

"But, jayil, if that were to happen, we'd have to actually have the death penalty, would we not? We can't just re-impose it."

Good point Damian. Criminals already know this, that is why they commit these dreadful crimes.

jayil, london, uk

But, jayil, if that were to happen, we'd have to actually have the death penalty, would we not? We can't just re-impose it.

Damian, Reading, Berkshire

Disgusting! May God forgive Nasri gor his heinous sins.

Ramesh Parida, Delhi, India

The killer or killers of this dreadful crime must get the death penalty. No if's not but's.

jayil, london, uk