THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN 2002, Americans were very happy because they had only 16,638 criminal homicides. They had good reason to be because from 1984 to 1993, criminal homicides were on average, 22,000 per year. In contrast, in the same 2002, in Italy, we were very afraid because, with a population that is about one fifth of America's, we had 638 criminal homicides, and we were very concerned about it, even though that figure was less than the number we had in 1991. Americans love to think that their drop was because of the death penalty. We cannot agree because we are a death-penalty-free country.

Actually, Italy ended capital punishment in 1888 and had it again only under fascism. In those sad years, the homicide rate was five times higher than we have now, and, in the 20 years following the definitive end of the death penalty (1948-1968), the homicide rate dropped from five to one point four.

Something similar happened in Canada in the years that followed the end of capital punishment in 1976.

The death penalty is an enormous waste of lives, money, time and resources. This cancer is destroying American justice. It is not a deterrent and kills the poor, the weak, the mad, the illiterate, and mostly the black. Sooner or later, Americans will realise that the death penalty is an immoral, indecent, illegal, expensive, stupid, cruel, dangerous, racist, classist violation of human rights.

I am, etc.,

Dott. CLAUDIO GIUSTI

giusticlaudio@aliceposta.it

Forli, Italia