Derek Bentely Essay

Why Derek Bentleys execution was important in changing attitudes to Capital Punishment?For serious crimes, such as murder, the government has introduced a punishment which is known as the Capital punishment. Its a death penalty for the person who committed a crime. The government believed that the choppiness in the punishment would deter crimes and also bring justice to the dupes family. However, during the 20th centuary, there were cephalalgias questioning the necessity of the death penalty.One of the moot execution is of Derek Bentley, who was accused of murder and was executed as a result. On Sunday the 2nd November 1952, Bentley, aged 19, and Christopher Craig, aged 16 broke into a London Warehouse, intending to commite the crime of burglary.The arrival of the police at the scene sbotaged their heading and their plan to escape through the roof.In panic Criag spear one of the police, PC Sidney and kil guide him consequently. Eventhough both Craig and Bentley were charged wit h murder, it was only Bentley who was executed as Craig was under 18 and a law which was passed in 1933 stating that people under 18 could no longter be hanged restrained the execution of Craig. But the publics concern was was the exceution of Bentely fair at all? Since Bentley was known to have learning difficulties and had the affable age of 11, the local people though the execution was utterly unfair.In addition, Bentley didnt own any weapon nor he pulled the trigger and shot the officer. This strongly suggests the injustice thats in his execution and the poepls denail against it. This specific exceution changed many peoples attitudes toward Capital punishment overwhelmingly. People had collected outside Wandsworth jail, where they showed great sympathy by singing and praying for him and also were protesting against the last of the execution.Also, a petion of 200 members asking for the mercy of Bentley was passed around, to which the government showed no self-reproach to. Ma ny pointed out that the mental age of Bentley is younger than Craigs and this led to these protests against the useage of Capital punishment. To conclude, Bentleys execution was one of the principal elements that has been the cause to abate the Capital punishment and changed many peoples views asit was inquitable to censure someone with mental disabilities and who had not even committed murder to death.