A recent case has sparked a heated debate on whether to bring back the death penalty for child killers in the UK. What do you think?
Southport: Axel Rudakubana was sentenced for the horrific murders of three young girls. Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, lost their lives on July 29, 2024.
The judge, Mr. Justice Goose, gave him a minimum of 52 years in prison. He said Rudakubana would likely die behind bars for his “sadistic” actions.
Interestingly, the 18-year-old wasn’t even in court for his sentencing. He said he would be “disruptive” if he attended. That’s why the judge proceeded without him.
This tragic case has reignited discussions about how we punish such terrible crimes. Many people are asking if capital punishment should make a comeback.
So, what do you think? Should the death penalty be brought back? There’s a poll you can vote in, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Just a bit of history: the last execution in the UK was in 1964. Since then, the death penalty has been banned for all crimes, thanks to the Human Rights Act in 1998.
Interestingly, a 2022 YouGov poll found that 40% of people still support the death penalty. That’s down from 51% in 2010, but it shows there’s still a lot of debate around this issue.
