Brit to be Executed in China

The problem is Chris, mental illness isn't taken as serious over in China as it is over here. Their legal system is very differant to ours. For example, in China it is fine to download music illegally but you can be shot for watching the BBC. Communism is differant to Capitalism and people need to understand that. In a communist nation the Government has to be seen as strong to keep everyone in line and if they are seen to be weak many others on death row will argue mental illness as an excuse for them to live.

Hi,

It could be political - he's classed as "European".

Best regards,
Vulcan.

Appalled is all I can say. Not surprised though, this is a nation that executes people by shooting them in football stadiums in front of a crowd. Not to mention allegations of execution to harvest organs for transplant.

If he was mentally ill Tom?

If he was mentally ill Tom? Yes, but I'm sure he still knew he was doing somthing wrong, and even somone who is mentally ill at his level still knows it's illegal to take drugs into a county.  The Chinese can't just think because he is mentaly ill they must let him off with it, otherwise this is sending out the wrong message, isn't it?

MartinW wrote: If he was mentally ill Tom?   If he wasn't directly responsible for another's death?   If executing someone that's not 'directly' responsible for someones death is contrary to international law and basic morality?

I dont get that martin, it says "This guy was a very vulnerable person, extremely ill" then i assume the fact he was left to his own devices to be duped into commiting the crime in the first place has to be blamed on his family and friends?

A drink driver dosnt have to kill anyone martin, the fact you get caught dosnt take away your criminal actions

And depends on your view on morality, feeding hard drugs in society has some basic morl issues itself

Right im off to the sales!

Flightboy

Martin, China's legal system is very differant to ours

MartinW wrote: Martin, China's legal system is very differant to ours   Yes Edward, I'm very aware of that. But not the point. The point is whether it's morally acceptable for a nation to kill an individual for a crime that didn't ''directly'' harm another. International law says no.   The Chinese didn't conduct any kind of mental health assessment of this individual at all. Despite being told he was mentally ill. Any civilised nation would have. Then a proper assessment of the validity of the bipolar claims could have been made.

Since when have the Chinese cared about international law?  There seem to be some ambiguities about this story, it seems true that the man was mentally ill, but I'm not entirely sure about the drugs.  As has been stated many times in this thread, the Chinese don't have any leniency for mentally ill people.  This reminds me of another regime... and we all know what that regime ended up doing.

If the man was caught with the cocaine, without having sold any, nor given any out, under law thats intent to supply.  This does not have the same consequences as having already supplied drugs.  Therefore, I find it a bit extreme that they execute him.

Does anyone else here think that the actual execution of the man is not as important as the obvious political message China is making through this act? 

Since when have the Chinese cared about international law?

No Flighboy. The individual that has just been executed did not pass on a drug that would eventually result in the death of anyone. The drugs were ceased. No fatalities, no injury, no harm came to anyone. The only crime he committed was one of possession and for the state to kill an individual that has not caused harm to anyone is obscene.

He would be guilty of an ''attempted'' incident yes. But he would not be guilty of bodily harm. It makes him not guilty at all of committing a violent act. His only guilt was an ''attempt''. Therefore he would be tried in regard to an attempted crime.