I didn't think that anyone on the Pet Talk boards would be advocates for the rehabilitation of seriously depraved offenders! You least of all, since you have been reading up on this case quite a bit.

You know, even eminent psychologists, psychiatrists and criminologists are often stumped by the questions you raise - why do people do such things? To me, it's a matter of choice. There are those out there who come from the same backgrounds as depraved criminals, and posess the same mental and intellectual characteristics, but never become criminals, never harm an animal or human being. So what is so different about those who do?

Nothing.

They just make a choice, pure and simple.

There is no such thing as being a slave of one's own circumstance. Just as the law-abiding citizens choose not to become criminals, those who take the other path should be made to pay the appropriate price for doing so.