Even a Beatle's killer deserves some mercy

21 August 2012

Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed former Beatle John Lennon 32 years ago, will have his seventh parole hearing this week.

While many would like Chapman to remain in prison, it might be prudent for them to read Portia's speech from Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice.

It serves, primarily, as a reminder that all people are called upon to work within the man-made law to give effect to the "higher law" which is mercy - "an attribute to God himself".

All life is sacred. If justice were not tempered with mercy, none of us would see salvation.

PAUL KOKOSKI

Ontario, Canada

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