If you could guarantee the verdict, would you pull the rope?

[Newc]

There's an article in the Telegraph today about a gang of twunts who tied up, assaulted and robbed a pensioner couple of 20k. All had prior records, one had been arrested while on bail for something else, etc etc. The judge gave them 15 years, so that's something. But why are we bothering ? There's no ambiguity in the case, these people are never going to add to society, why isn't it a 9mm and an invoice for the cartridge ?

A lot of the opposition to capital punishment is the sense - rightly - that laws and courts are not perfect, and it is better to let ten guilty go free than one innocent go to the gallows. But imagine a verdict could be guaranteed, science fiction style with an incorruptible AI, 24/7 video, Tom Cruise as the investigator, you know the score.

If that was the case, would you bring back the death penalty ? Let's say it's a 'take the blue pill, go to sleep, never wake up, no pain' kind of thing rather than being dropped into a pit of rabid hamsters. And, more importantly, for what offences ?

Murder - sure
Rape - burn 'em
Aggravated burglary - maybe a second chance approach
Manslaughter - probably not
Keying a parked car - hamsters