Evaluation
Ronald Ryan will always be known as the last man hanged in Australia. Someone who caused great controversy and public protest for the harsh punishment of the death penalty. Ryan killed George Hodson not with the intention of murder. He wanted to escape the prison, and Hodson was an interruption to his plan as he tried to stop Ryan’s partner Walker. However Ryan did kill another human being, thus he did need to be punished. As death by hanging was the mandatory punishment for murder it is understandable why Ryan received this as a punishment.
However there were many complications through this process. During the trial it was revealed that another prison guard also fired a shot. Opas, who was appearing for Ryan told the jury that the bullet from the shot was never found. There were certain evidence that could have meant the Ryan was innocent. However they were not looked at by the judge.
It was also evident that Ryan was given the death penalty which was not commuted to life even though this was the practice done for the past 35 death penalty cases. Even when there was a mass protest against the hanging of Ryan, his execution was not commuted. Thus, even for that time, Ryan’s punishment was not fair as it was not justly handled. It is evident through the following primary source that that many people were against the execution of Ryan and wanted to commute it. However even though many protested the authorities ignored the community's plea.
However there were many complications through this process. During the trial it was revealed that another prison guard also fired a shot. Opas, who was appearing for Ryan told the jury that the bullet from the shot was never found. There were certain evidence that could have meant the Ryan was innocent. However they were not looked at by the judge.
It was also evident that Ryan was given the death penalty which was not commuted to life even though this was the practice done for the past 35 death penalty cases. Even when there was a mass protest against the hanging of Ryan, his execution was not commuted. Thus, even for that time, Ryan’s punishment was not fair as it was not justly handled. It is evident through the following primary source that that many people were against the execution of Ryan and wanted to commute it. However even though many protested the authorities ignored the community's plea.
...when it [hanging] is violently opposed by at least half the community, when it more and more seems to be the decision of one man – and that man a politician, not a judge – then it is intolerable. We believe that the sentence on Ryan should be commuted and that no man should ever again be hanged in Australia.– Sydney Morning Herald, 2 February 1966
Compared to today’s social values, the death penalty for a crime Ryan’s crime is unacceptable. In modern Australia, the maximum term for murder is life imprisonment. The death penalty was seen as an inhumane way of punishing people. Society values life, as the death penalty is irreversible, meaning if one was innocent then there would be no way to revive the persecuted. Hence, the death penalty with no acceptance of commuting to life was an objectionable punishment compared to today’s society values and the crime and evidence provided for Ryan.