Vietnam’s death row inmates enduring a wait worse than death

Thanh Nien News ^ | 07/09/2013 | Vietweek

[TexGrill]

Death-row prisoner Nguyen Tien Cong got tired of waiting for the state to kill him.

The 35-year-old man committed suicide in prison on June 15, two years after the Hai Phong People’s Court sentenced him to death for killing a 61-year-old who caught him breaking into his house.

Executions were scheduled to resume last month, after having been delayed indefinitely since Vietnam shifted from the firing squad to lethal injection under the amended Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments that took effect on November 1, 2011.

The initial delays were the result of the European Union’s refusal to sell the lethal drug cocktail Vietnamese law mandated must be used for executions. The government further amended its decree, which took effect June 27, to make way for the use of locally produced drugs.

However, executions were delayed once again last week, leaving 568 death-row inmates to wonder when the country would get around to killing them.

Cao Ngoc Oanh, director of the central police department in charge of managing nationwide prisons, told the media on June 26 that “we are not ready to carry out with lethal injections.”

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[arthurus]

there is no evidence that the death penalty works as a particular deterrent for crime

That is prima facie false. Without a recidivism rate of zero, the death penalty obviously deters crime. Those who are executed are never recidivists. They commit no further crimes. They are deterred.

[Eagles6]

Hanging with hemp rope?

[Lancey Howard]

there is no evidence that the death penalty works as a particular deterrent for crime

You are correct, of course, to point out that executed killers kill no more. To me, though, the most important advantage to execution is that it gives the victim's family, friends, and neighbors closure.

[dennisw]

You are correct, of course, to point out that executed killers kill no more. To me, though, the most important advantage to execution is that it gives the victim's family, friends, and neighbors closure.

Closure knowing that a serous attempt has been made to right the scales of justice. I know that if someone close to me was murdered for no good reason..... I would only feel good once the murderer was executed. Is is torture for victims families to wait 20 years for an execution.

[Lancey Howard]

Precisely.

FRegards,
LH

[RC one]

That is an extremely solid argument which begs to be tested against the liberals.

[Ecliptic]

There is also no evidence that capital punishment is useless in preventing crime.

[Catsrus]

You are correct, however, why do some want murderers and rapists to continue to live and have mercy, when their victims weren’t given that opportunity. It isn’t all about crime prevention.

[muir_redwoods]

"there is no evidence that the death penalty works as a particular deterrent for crime"

There is an equal lack of evidence that long prison sentences work as a particular deterrent for crime. So?

[GeronL]

not many crimes carried out by those put to death. That is proof it works

[GeronL]

bump

[Old Retired Army Guy]

In China they do it with a bullet to the back of the head. Then they charge the family of the person executed for the price of the bullet.

[muir_redwoods]

Uh, did you read what I wrote? The point I made clearly was that there is no evidence that prison sentences deter crime. No one suggests not incarcerating people because it doesn’t deter crime. Deterrence isn’t the only factor to consider. The primary point isn’t deterrence, it’s punishment. The death penalty works just fine in that regard.

[ThanhPhero]

Executed drug dealers are also hindered from posthumous transactions. In Việt Nam dealing is also a capital crime.

[ArrogantBustard]

Nitrogen asphyxiation.