The most haunting quote I’ve heard about the death penalty comes from a man called John Spenkelink

The most haunting quote I’ve heard about the death penalty comes from a man called John Spenkelink who died as a result of it. He said "capital punishment means those without capital get the punishment."

Spenkelink had been a small-time crook when he shot and killed a man in what he claimed was self-defense; he said he was raped. Others argued this had not been the case, and said he had shot the man in the back. Spenkelink was put on trial for homicide… he rejected a plea bargain which would have gotten him life in prison, instead getting sentenced to death. Spenkelink was just 24 years old and condemned to die.

John Spenkelink grew up dirt poor and never had a dime to scratch his ass. He could not afford good legal representation and when he lost his case, he was done for. Subsequent appeals were denied, one after the other. In 1979 he was put to death at the age of 30. Stress had prematurely greyed his hair by that time.

It has been alleged that Spenkelink was manhandled, abused and taunted by guards leading up to his execution. No reporters or relatives were allowed to see him, and no autopsy was ever performed. It is my belief that he was murdered that day. And it is my belief that many people are murdered by the state, around the world. And it it those with the least financial means that most often die for their (alleged) crimes.

John Spenkelink said: “Capital punishment means those without capital get the punishment.” What he says rings true today. Sometimes it’s not only the poor, but the innocent who die when wrongly accused. You can set a man free from jail but you cannot have a corpse walk out of the cemetery. Unless everyone has access to the same fair legal representation and is guilty of their crime beyond any doubt, I am against the death penalty.