I am against mandatory minimums, especially for things like minor drug offences - like possession of very small amounts of drugs etc. I feel that was a pretty short-sighted attempt at combating drugs. For people with severe drug problems, rehabilitation in facilities equipped to handle medical detox is absolutely a must.

Someone getting out of hand and smacking their partner once... well, yeah, that's definitely bad. But they can be redeemed. If it's a pattern or continual behavior, that's something else that needs to be assessed. But a one time thing, based on a strong emotional reaction with really not that much damage.. that's a different thing.

I don't really think there is much sense in really bringing up those kind of convictions/events in the face of this particular one we are discussing because they are so very distant from one another in their severity, and in their harm to others. I really don't think we can do the whole 'slippery slope' thing here. People aren't going to start going "Well, since we've decided to lock up a guy who planned the murder of his (ex?)girlfriend and fully-developed foetus, and decided to set them on fire whilst alive, for life... and possible execution, I guess we should also execute that John Smith guy who was caught with Xgrams of cocaine and an ecstacy tablet on him at a club"

Pre-meditation and level of cruelty and damage for me is a big determinant in how many people react towards a crime and criminal. And this crime, hits that dirty trifecta of being: pre-meditated (planned and even acquired an accomplice), very cruel (luring to a forest, clubbing, stabbing and setting on fire while alive) and very damaging (a woman and her 8 month foetus died).

I don't feel I'm alone, at all, when I say that the level of cruelty is a huge deal when trying to see rehabilitation potential, or perhaps, rehabilitation worthiness.

I mean, I wonder, could people see rehabilitation worthiness or potential in Dahmer? Or, say, David Parker Ray? (if you don't know who he is, do yourself a favor and don't look him up. Seriously). I think there's a point where you SHOULD say, that level of cruelty is irredeemable, and we can not let that stand. That level of cruelty is not befitting of life.