RE P Astonie (Opinion, June 29) calling for the restoration of the death penalty, how many innocent people would have been murdered by the state for a crime they did not commit?

Whether the person is in prison for life or receives the death penalty, justice is seen to be done.

Mr Astonie states that people who deserved the death penalty are being released to commit crimes again.

This is the result of a weak justice system rather than the punishment given, and that is a different issue altogether.”

Jack Daniels, Blackburn.