THERE really is only one appropriate penalty for Robert Hinz, the father found guilty of battering to death his three-month-old son whom he had abused for the whole of his tragically short life – but unfortunately, the death penalty was abolished her some years ago, without any public consultation by the politicians responsible for doing so.

Perhaps, once Brexit is complete, there may emerge a politician with the backbone to push for the reinstatement of capital punishment for the most heinous of killings.

One of the most potent arguments for abolition was the fact that there had been a few cases of the wrong people being executed, but, with the huge advances in forensics and DNA profiling, it is almost impossible for that to happen these days.

ROBERT READMAN

Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth

Want to respond to this letter for publiation? send us a letter