Police superintendent puts up exhibition on capital punishment

What are the popular perceptions about the death penalty? How have attitudes and perceptions on this changed in the past 200 years?

While most European countries have abolished capital punishment, a good number of states in America still have it on their statute books.

Particularly in the case of serial killers, people seem to expect the ultimate punishment, but is it fair of society to kill one of its own, seemingly to make amends for the wrong that person inflicted on another member of society?

In order to throw light on some of these questions and stir up debate about this theme, superintendent Ray Zammit has put up an exhibition on capital punishment in Malta.

The exhibition is being held at ir-Razzett tal-Markiz in Mosta, with the collaboration of Ghaqda Filantropika Talent Mosti and the head and council of Lily of the Valley school.

The exhibition, which runs till November 9, includes a group of mannequins recalling landmark murders going back to the early days of the 19th century when the Maltese islands came under British rule.

The exhibition, The Gallows in Malta, is open from Monday to Sunday between 6.30 and 9.30 p.m. while on Sunday it is open also between 10 a.m. and noon.

Mr Zammit, who is following a course in criminology at the university, said he had sourced most of his material from Eddie Attard, a keen crime researcher who has published books on crime, including Delitti f'Malta and his most recent Delitti li Jibqghu Jissemmew.

A particular murder highlighted in the exhibition recalls the killing in 1807 of a priest by four men, one of whom was decapitated after he was hanged.

On Friday, visitors to Razzett tal-Markiz will be able to meet Mr Attard who will give an overview of the murders that took place in Malta since the early 19th century.

Mr Zammit, who was assisted in putting up the display by his sons Roderick and Daniel, said that from research he is carrying out, it was evident that people who are terrified of crime are avid readers of crime stories and keen viewers of horror films.

Will most of the visitors to the gallows' gallery be those who are terrified of crime? he wondered.