Pleading mitigation for a murderer is a humane move, if only to avoid the human character being contaminated by money or more violence, says an article in Beijing News. The following is an excerpt:

Liang Jianhong, whose son was killed by Song Xiaoming over a debt quarrel, begged the court for a lighter penalty for the latter recently in Beijing. What she did showcases both the glory of maternal love and her humane nature.

Usually, the law is uncharitable. But that does not mean it is ruthless. Indeed, the ultimate goal of the law's rule in modern times should be the respect for human nature.

Liang is obviously a great mother not only for her own son, but also for the killer who has shared her love also. We should carry forward this shining part of human nature into the practice of the judiciary, as the trend of worshiping light penalty and forgiveness is becoming popular.

In theory, legal penalty is something of legal public violence against illegal individual violence, but may we remind ourselves that violence is the last choice before which every other option, condition or possibility should be taken into account.

As imprisonment has partly replaced the death penalty and corporal punishment, community service sometimes is taking the role of imprisonment, and resorting to more scientific means for a criminal's correction offers the right direction.

Meanwhile, in the process of juridical progress, it is necessary to maintain vigilance against the possible involvement of money or violence, which may take advantage of humane moves.

(China Daily July 18, 2008)