| Mercy Killings in Combat: Ending the Suffering of Gravely Wounded Combatants Contributor(s): Penny Hill Press Inc (Editor), The Jude Advocate Generals School (Author) |
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ISBN: 1522817077 ISBN-13: 9781522817079 Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform OUR PRICE: $14.20 Product Type: Paperback Published: December 2015 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Genocide & War Crimes - History | Military - Wars & Conflicts (other) |
| Physical Information: 0.43" H x 8.5" W x 11" (1.06 lbs) 202 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: A Soldier who kills a gravely wounded combatant to end his suffering likely will be charged with premeditated murder. If convicted of premeditated murder, the Soldier will be sentenced to life in prison-there is no discretion. Life in prison is the mandatory minimum sentence for a premeditated murder conviction. A mandatory life sentence for combat related mercy killings is unjustifiable for three reasons. First, it subjects the Soldier to a punishment that does not correspond with the moral wrongfulness of the crime. Second, the mandatory minimum sentence constructively coerces the Soldier into a posture to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid the risk of the mandatory life sentence. Third, it deprives the Soldier of any meaningful sentencing case by making matters in mitigation and extenuation irrelevant. |