BBC News - Student dies in hospital after London street stabbing

I see this far too often on the news these days. Stabbed for what reason? A mobile phone? It might be said that the young man, whose young life has been cut short in such a brutal way, made an error carrying a bag marked with T-Mobile on it. You and I who were born in these places of violence know that it is not a good idea to draw attention to oneself in anyway for fear that there might be someone nearby who is desperate enough to take your life for whatever it is you are carrying.

But this young student knew no such fear and probably did not think for one moment that someone would attack him for it. It seems these days that there are a growing number of desperate individuals who will take your life if you so much as look at them the wrong way let alone possess something they want. This is why we need to bring back the death penalty.

I was never a fan of the death penalty for the simple reason that we could not rely on the evidence brought in court for such a serious offence and too many times in the past, the wrong person was put to death. But we are now past that point. I do believe that the technology exists to convict a suspect beyond any doubt. When this situation arises, the death penalty should be automatic and without interpretation.

The death of Samuel Guidera is one such situation that merits the ultimate punishment. It has become far too easy to take a life knowing that there is nothing that can be done to make a criminal pay. Some will argue that having a deterrent such as the death penalty will not deter the type of person who committed this crime. I disagree completely with that view and even if it were true, do we not owe it to the family of Samuel Guidera, owe it to society and to the majority of good people, to rid ourselves of such a person?

There is no easy answer but it is time to stop talking tough about being tough on crime and time to get tough on crime - starting here.

The Alternative Bollox.