Accused Quote by John Diefenbaker
“Some wonder why I have such a feeling of concern over the imposition of the death penalty. I ask those who wonder how would you feel if you defended a man charged with murder, who was as innocent as any hon. member in this House at this very moment, who was convicted; whose appeal was dismissed, who was executed; and six months later the star witness for the Crown admitted that he, himself, had committed the murder and blamed it on the accused? That experience will never be effaced from my memory.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Parliamentary debate on capital punishment, Canada, 1961
The death penalty can lead to irreversible errors, haunting conscience when innocent lives are taken.
In simple terms: Executing the innocent is a moral tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Question the justice of capital punishment.
Themes
justice
ethics
capital punishment
human error
Mood
somber
urgent
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- court cases
- legislative reform
- public policy
- advocacy
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
legal fallibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent wrongful convictions?
- How does society value human life?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems can be flawed; risk of wrongful execution.
