The mother of a boy who was found murdered in a cane...

The mother of a boy who was found murdered in a cane paddock near Innisfail in 1993 has said she does not support the reintroduction of capital punishment. Sherrie Meyer, the mother of murdered teenager Gabe Meyer and co-ordinator of the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group, said her family did not believe capital punishment was right, and that a life term should really mean life in prison. However 76.6 per cent of respondents to the Crime and Punishment survey run by the Cairns Post believed the reintroduction of the death penalty for premeditated murder was more appropriate. Almost 80 per cent (79.3) of males who responded supported the death penalty, while 72.7 per cent of women did. Those in the 50-plus age bracket were 78.4 per cent in support while the 25-34 age group had the lowest support rate at 70.8 per cent. Queensland Civil Liberty Council vice president Terry O'Gorman said the high rate of support for the death penalty was not surprising but his experience showed the majority of people who supported such a penalty changed their view when given a few more facts. "When they learn of the number of miscarriages of justice which have come to light in the past 12 months to two years, many would change their mind," Mr O'Gorman said. "If people who support the death penalty are shown that it has had no effect on the murder rates in places where it is undertaken, people might have a different view." The death penalty is meant to be a deterrent against crime, but has had no effect on the number of murders," O'Gorman said. "The reason for this is simple - a person who is about to murder another person does not have the consequences on their mind. "In saying this, we in no way wish to diminish the grief of the families and friends of the victims."