starter activity

Read about the story of Craig (left) and Bentley (right) in Wilkes, p.134-5. Do you think Bentley have been hanged? Why do you think this case was a turning point in the

history of crime and punishment in Britain?

Costello. ‘Let him dangle’

When did capital When did capital punishment end punishment end

in Britain?in Britain?TBAT explain events & TBAT explain events &

controversy surrounding controversy surrounding Craig & Bentley caseCraig & Bentley case

To debate case for abolishing To debate case for abolishing capital punishmentcapital punishment

Learning objectives

Key words: abolition capital punishment

Your taskYour task

Study the timeline on p.74-5 Study the timeline on p.74-5 (Cummings). Your teacher will give (Cummings). Your teacher will give you a card sort. Try to rearrange the you a card sort. Try to rearrange the cards in chronological order.cards in chronological order.

What do you think was the turning What do you think was the turning point in the ending of capital point in the ending of capital punishment? What factors led to its punishment? What factors led to its abolition?abolition?

Ruth Ellis, last woman to be hanged in the UK in 1955

Your taskYour task

Read p.184-5 (SHP) and p.74-5 Read p.184-5 (SHP) and p.74-5 (Cummings) and p.136 (Wilkes) and (Cummings) and p.136 (Wilkes) and create a scales chart recording the create a scales chart recording the advantages and disadvantages of advantages and disadvantages of abolition.abolition.

Write a judgement belowWrite a judgement below Do you think there are particular Do you think there are particular

crimes which merit the death crimes which merit the death penalty? Which ones?penalty? Which ones?

This house believes the time has come to reintroduce the death penalty.

Extension taskExtension task

Produce a factoid on Produce a factoid on the Ruth Ellis case. the Ruth Ellis case. Include details on Include details on her early life, the her early life, the motives for the motives for the killing, public killing, public reaction to her death reaction to her death and the cultural and the cultural impact (clue: film), impact (clue: film), tootoo

HomeworkHomework

Visit the excellent BBC website on Visit the excellent BBC website on capital punishment here and capital punishment here and supplement your scales chart: supplement your scales chart: www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/capitalpunishmenwww.bbc.co.uk/ethics/capitalpunishment/t/

Find out which countries still use Find out which countries still use capital punishment and which country capital punishment and which country uses the death sentence most frequently uses the death sentence most frequently in proportion to the size of its in proportion to the size of its populationpopulation

When did capital When did capital punishment end punishment end

in Britain?in Britain?TBAT explain events & TBAT explain events &

controversy surrounding controversy surrounding Craig & Bentley caseCraig & Bentley case

To debate case for abolishing To debate case for abolishing capital punishmentcapital punishment

Learning objectives

Key words: abolition capital punishment