[West Ender]

At the time the death sentence was abolished I was glad. I had heard about the miscarriages of Justice (Derek Bentley, Timothy Evans etc.) and I thought it was wrong to execute people for this sort of crime.

In the intervening years I have changed my mind. I began to have doubts at the trial of Brady and Hindley, so obviously guilty and so vile, and the way crimes violence have escalated has made me even more in favour of the ultimate deterrent.

So, the life of a decent young man is worth nothing more than 23 years in prison - comfortable life, recreation and the chance to study? Where is the deterrent to anyone who takes it into his head to kill another human being? If I walk into your home and shoot you I can expect 20 years inside, less with remission. I don't face the hangman's noose so, what the hell? If I commit a robbery and kill a policewoman in the process, so what? She has no life - but I do.

The 2 people who killed Anthony did it in the secure knowledge that they had nothing to fear but the loss of their freedom for a few years. The threat of "the drop" might have made them think twice.