[fabsroman]

I don't necessarily agree with the kid getting life in prison, but I can see why the Supreme Court took the easy way out on this one holding that sentencing a minor to death is considered cruel and unusual punishment, and just as the second amendment protects the right to bear arms, there is another amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court took the easy road (i.e., using the age of majority) to determine the line. The harder road would have been trying to determine another age, or maybe another method, that would subject a minor to the death sentence. Just trying to figure out if a minor should be tried as an adult is a headache of its own.

As far as appeals are concerned, I truly believe in them now. I didn't use to until a couple of years ago when I heard about some 40 guys on death row in Illinois that had been wrongly convicted and their innocence didn't come to light until we were able to do DNA testing. However, that is not the case with this guy in Florida. He confessed to killing the girl, so I think he should be executed immediately. When there is direct evidence linking a person to the crime, I am all for the death penalty right away. However, the death penalty right away, based upon circumstantial evidence, might be a little harsh.