Does Clifford Boggess Deserve to Die?

     Independent of my feelings that, from a practical viewpoint, the death penalty is incorrect, I believe that Clifford Boggess should have been executed because the aggravating factors of the case far outweigh the mitigating factors. Initially, I believed that Boggess' seemingly amiable and stable personality was evidence that he had changed while in prison. However, as several of his family members and acquantinces shared their experiences and thoughts on Boggess, it became clear that his capacity to deceive others had just improved. His ex-girlfriend Phoebe describes Boggess as having "no heart" as well as having an explosive temper, a remorseless attitude, and clearly describes psychopathic tendencies. His uncle, Carl Boggess, also said that there "was always something off about Clifford. He just didn't act like a normal person." Carl Boggess finished his testimony by stating that Clifford "was crazy".
    I suppose to do not believe that people can change. As the film continued, I found myself becoming more and more horrified at Boggess' capacity to manipulate others and make them believe that he has indeed changed. While it is clear that he has taken a deep interest in art and Christianity, these newfound passions and beliefs are overshadowed by his deep-seated unpredicitability and need to kill. As Clifford's uncle Carl Boggess said, "he is a great pretender".
   Listening to the testimony of the victims' families, it was blatantly obvious that Boggess' death did not supply them with any consolation of or sense of justice. Upon receiving a letter from Boggess in which he expressed his (supposed) remorse, Lisa Hazelwood said that while she was certain at that time more than ever that he deserved to die, she did not believe that it was appropriate that he die in the way that he did. She emphasized that his execution made it too easy for him and that he was able to escape his suffering through death. This sentiment was echoed by Mr. Collier, the brother of a victim. Furthermore, Hazelwood voiced her frustration that by executing Boggess, he was able to reach a point of resolution before his death whereas her grandfather "didn't get to when he died." I vehemently agree with Hazelwood's statement that the death penalty affords criminals with an unfair luxury of choosing a death date and allowing them to perhaps reach a point of personal absolution and that if the death penalty's aim is to provide an ultimate form of punishment, it has sorely failed.