What the hell do you mean this is not a proportional punishment? Anyone guilty of this crime has given up all right to be called human and should be put down like an animal. The victim has to live with what has happened for the rest of their lives while the perpretrator can and will savour the memories. I know that the death penalty is a controversial issue but in these cases I believe that it should be available as an option. That said it shouldnt apply to all cases, it has to be down to intent. Meeting someone when you are on a night out and finding out afterwards that they are a hell of a lot younger than you thought isnt the same as someone who deliberately targets children even though in the eyes of the law its the same crime.
The US Supreme Court has struck down a law that would have allowed the execution of someone convicted of raping a child.
The court said the Louisiana law would have violated the US constitution's ban on "cruel and unusual punishment".
"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy in his majority opinion.
The justices voted 5-4 in favour of striking down the law.
The ruling means that a Louisiana man convicted of raping his stepdaughter in 1998 will not now face the death penalty.
'National consensus'
The US Supreme Court struck down a law allowing the death penalty in cases of adult rape in 1977, but five states still allowed execution when a child rape had been committed.
Citing the 45 states who had imposed bans on execution for child rape, Justice Kennedy wrote in his opinion that "there is a national consensus against capital punishment for the crime of child rape".
Writing on behalf of the minority of justices who opposed the decision, Justice Samuel Alito said: "The harm that is caused to the victims and to society at large by the worst child rapists is grave.
"It is the judgment of the Louisiana lawmakers and those in an increasing number of other states that these harms justify the death penalty."
