PETALING JAYA: A DAP lawmaker said that the death penalty should be allowed in murder cases which involve children.Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (pic) said it is debatable if the death penalty should be completely abolished, but in cases of murder, especially of children, it should be retained. "I have always been an advocate of the abolishment of the death penalty but cases like these, I think, justify retaining the said death penalty in exceptional cases, especially gruesome murders, provided the evidence against such offenders are beyond any reasonable doubt," he said in a statement on Sunday (Nov 11).He noted the concerns of the families of murder victims that abolishing the death penalty may send the wrong signal that such crimes are not taken seriously enough. "We cannot ignore such concerns. "Such discretion will also allow the court to consider any mitigating factors which may favour an accused in sparing (the accused) from the death penalty. Related stories:Babysitter, husband arrested after child dies from physical and sexual abuse'As long as offender is not punished, I will not feel calm', says mom of baby Zara, who died after physical, sexual abuse

Source: thestar November 11, 2018 13:18 UTC