SIR - Peter Wilson (T&A, February 5) opposes the death penalty because of a lifelong belief that to take a life in cold blood is morally unacceptable. Isn't that what the murderers are doing?

By wanting the death penalty to be introduced I am in good company. Keith Hellawell the former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, stated as much following the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky.

If her killers had known with absolute certainty that they would forfeit their miserable and useless lives it is highly likely that brave Sharon would still be alive today.

Geoffrey Holmes, The Grove, Idle