Yes, these are scum of the earth. But, personally, I’d offer them life if they were willing to work at clearing mines or UXO’s (UneXploded Ordnance) for say a decade…

They end up getting blown to bits or they do humanity a favor. Well worth it IMHO.

Eliezer on October 7, 2010 at 7:22 pm

Debbie, I am in favor of the routine use of the death penalty for murder.

Any one who willingly takes a human life has forfeited the right to live. To allow a murderer to breathe is an offense to G-d.

Besides punishment, the death penalty gives meaning to the victim’s life and emphasizes how sacred human life is.

That isn’t conveyed by putting people away for life. If I was the victim, how fair is it they get to breath and do nearly everything that life offers, but I no longer could?

Both justice and compassion demand the death penalty for murder.

NormanF on October 7, 2010 at 7:23 pm

Miss Schlussel, Et Alii:

This case is also a compelling argument for private individuals exercising their inalienable right to wear a loaded firearm, either concealed or openly.

Convicted felons have testified they are more afraid of encountering an armed citizen than they are of the police.

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

John Robert Mallernee on October 7, 2010 at 7:37 pm

My wife grew up with Jennifer. She was at her wedding to William Petit, and held the elder daughter on the day of her baptism. For many years she worked for Jenifer’s father. These have been sad days for us as we have relived the initial tragedy and learned more details about the crime than we would ever have wished.

My thoughts on the sentence — an injection of 9mm of lead to the base of the skull on the front steps of the courthouse, with the cameras running, and the bodies left to rot as a reminder of what we do to those who commit such unspeakable evil. And my wife is would prefer that they die in a much harsher manner than I am comfortable typing.

Rhymes With Right on October 7, 2010 at 8:26 pm

I am not enthralled with the death penalty, but this case is so crystal clear that it clearly warrants such a penalty. Normally, public defenders and those contracted to perform such fuctions do not even really attempt to help their clients beyond the absolute minimum necessary, due to excessive case loads, incompetence, and an ever present fear of offending the judge or prosecutor. There is no justice in obtaining a plea bargain for a crime that was not committed. In this matter, that is not the situation. There are no questions about guilt, and a capital penalty is apporpriate.

Worry01 on October 7, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Both scum bags should be executed. The method the State uses is too easy for them. I can recommend a good way, but I’ll just leave that alone.

Joel Harrell on October 7, 2010 at 8:50 pm

Those girls were “babies”. I do not think that the needle holds any justice in this case. I know this is very harsh but I do believe that both of these souless evil basterds should first be raped with a broom and then burned to death in a controlled burn fire. Eye for an eye in this case would be justice.

NancyB on October 7, 2010 at 9:19 pm

Deb, I wholeheartedly agree on all counts, good piece.

It’s all over the news here (NY/CT border).

Harry on October 7, 2010 at 9:29 pm

There should be several types of death options available, with the surviving family members ( in this only the Dr.) to decide the method of termination. If no such decision is made, then the state govt should exercise a standard death penalty (I assume it’s injection in CT)

Not Ovenready on October 7, 2010 at 9:57 pm

Is there really any type of death sentence that is suitable for the horror that these two scumbags perpetrated on Dr. Petit’s family? We have lethal injection, clean, painless, quick. How about a shot to the back of the head? Hanging? Impaling on a sharp stake? Cover them with honey and tie them to a mound of termites? There are many ways to die and as a Western country we choose to eliminate the scum in our society politely and quietly. But I have another idea. Not a quick death, a slow death. Complete isolation in a maximum security prison for the rest of their lives. No books, no radio, no tv, no weights, just a 30 minute period each day to walk around an isolated yard and then immediate return to the cell. The days will drag on by, one after another after another, each day growing longer then the previous with nothing to look forward to but another day of sitting in an empty cell and staring at the wall. If both of the scumbags are not completely bug eyed insane after just a few years I’d be very surprised. And after death burial in an unmarked grave. As if they never existed on this earth.

kenny komodo on October 7, 2010 at 10:42 pm

It’s obvious to me that the elimination of the death penalty in general has greatly increased the number of grisly murders.

However, the failure of the police in this case and especially officer Viglano is titanic and complete. They had plenty of time to stop this crime after Mrs. Pettit reported it but they delayed and delayed for no good reason. They were totally criminal in their lack of responsibility and I pity anyone who lives in their jurisdiction. Viglano should be fired and fined and the entire police department should undergo a thorough review in order to remove the useless failures who now run their corps.

Facts Life on October 7, 2010 at 11:00 pm

Absolutely a death penalty case

Brian Cuban on October 7, 2010 at 11:45 pm

Death penalty is a must in this case…I heard in CT they haven’t enforced or executed the death penalty in 50years! I hope they enforce and execute it in this case. It’s too bad they couldn’t try them both at the same time so that the family doesn’t have to suffer &relive this nightmare any longer. This is a case where the death penalty should be the only option and one which an eye for an eye or barbaric shariah law should apply,but of course I do not condone shariah law. It’s too bad they will not suffer the same painful death these innocent young women did.

freedom4usa on October 8, 2010 at 12:21 am

My one question about this case is, How did they know this particular family had that kind of money in the bank to withdrawal? Did a simple home invasion escalate with the parents bargaining and telling them about the money or did they know before hand and this was the plan from the start?

E: I think it is a fairly wealthy area of Connecticut and the father/husband is a doctor, so maybe they assumed because he is a doc, he’d have a lot of cash to withdraw. DS

ender on October 8, 2010 at 12:45 am

There’s no question that these scumbags deserve to be put to death.

The question is, what about the routine use of the death penalty? I think that NormanF at 7:23 pm nailed it.

In fact, IMHO, in cases where the evidence is overwhelming that the defendant(s) did the murder(s), there shouldn’t be an appeals process beyond the trial judge and such defendants should be put to death the next day. Of course, in cases where the defendant(s) pleads innocence and the evidence against the defendant(s) is circumstantial or less, there should be the full appeals process up to and including the US Supreme Court just as we have been doing.

JeffE on October 8, 2010 at 1:46 am

Of course, these sick, sick monkeys deserve death. The most horrific, painful, and brutal, yet slow tortuous death many people working together could dream up. They don’t deserved to be coddled in protected isolation for 20-30 years why society wastes money on their defense and their appeals.

They deserve life in prison plus 1,000 years, in Gen Pop, noi chance of parole. Even in a protected unit someone could reach them and kill them. Just like someone did to Jeffery Dahmer.

They deserve a slow gang-raping and beating, they deserve a worse death than the one they inflicted on that family.

And this makes me so mad that I firmly believe that anyone other than a ‘Man of the Cloth’ who feels sorry for these sick monkeys is a damn liar or just a very, very sick person in their own right; and symptomatic of the problems in our society.

The Death Penalty is way, way too merciful for scum like this. They deserve life forever in a tiny shitty cell with only a small black and white TV getting a couple educational and bible channels.
.

USpace on October 8, 2010 at 2:55 am

But in cases in which we are absolutely sure who did it–not based on circumstantial evidence–and where the actions are so horrific, the death penalty must be used.

Isn’t the best, most reliable evidence circumstantial? DNA, for instance?

Miranda Rose Smith on October 8, 2010 at 3:10 am

I am neutral on the death penalty. I see it this way. The dealth penalty is suitable in this case. However, as Debbie has stated, many people do get screwed by the system. Innocents are convicted. While these scum deserve to die (In ways not nearly as nice as they will experience), the *ONLY* way to make sure an innocent person is never executed is to never execute anyone, even these scum.

On the other hand, in certain situations the death penalty is the only way to deter crime (be it a specific or general deterence). Take for example a maximum security prison in a state without the death penalty. Just how is one to punish someone in for life without parole who kills a guard?

I_AM_ME on October 8, 2010 at 8:51 am

All executions should be on TV to have full effect. The 5 plotters of Abe Lincolns murder, besides Booth, were all hung in a public outdoor ceremony, including one woman. Booth was shot dead by soldiers earlier while trying to escape.

Truth on October 8, 2010 at 10:14 am

I think that the good Doctor should be allowed to be alone with each of these scumbag punks. He should be the one to deliver the method of terminating their pathetic, useless lives. If it were my family, I would cherish some alone time with these pieces of crap. That would give him a little comfort. I pray that Dr. Pettit will eventually have peace. This is a horrific story. These two animals must die!

Mike H. in Stilwell on October 8, 2010 at 11:14 am

It is better for society and the safety of decent members of our communities that the death penalty be applied much more often.

Even though it is true that there are mistakes sometimes, it is much worse that the vast majority of vicious murderers get off with no death penalty and are very often let out early.

The knowledge that murder will not lead to death causes many criminals not to hesitate to murder all robbery witnesses in order to avoid prosecution. Muggers are not afraid to murder in the streets knowing that they will get off scott free.

The overall balance is that many more innocents are dying violent deaths because of our fear of possibly killing a very small number of those innocent of murder.

Facts Life on October 8, 2010 at 11:33 am

“If Ever There Was a Clear Death Penalty Case, This Is It”

There were a couple of cases locally where a convicted rapist and a murderer were both released because of DNA evidence. The scumbag DA witheld evidence in one case (bite marks that didn’t match the suspect’s) and gave immunity to a “witness” with a criminal past (the actual murderer) in another.
Which make for a pretty good case against frivilous use of the death penalty.
BUT
In a situation as clear as this one, no doubt, I’m all for it. Justice served, and well deserved. The lowest of the low deserve no better.

theShadow on October 9, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Nancy B said what I have been saying about this case. They should die in exactly the same way they murdered that family.

interestin on October 10, 2010 at 11:59 am

Should be with microwave oven, a heads shielded against radiation, so they would not pass out too quickly. High energy radar would do. Burning for burning.
That what comes to my mind when I hear stories like that.

Unconditional lifetime in a forced labour camp should be a minimum punishment for crimes against peoples life.

gr77 on October 11, 2010 at 6:31 pm