Double sentencing wasn't a new idea, but rather the latest variation on the theme. Before that, a murderer might be hanged and then drawn and quartered, wherein horses were tied to his limbs and spurred off in four directions, the resultant "quarters" being impaled on spikes and publicly displayed, as a colorful reminder to the citizenry of the ill-advisedness of crime.
The concept of double sentencing is not a novel one; it has historical roots that can be traced back to gruesome punishments for murderers. In the past, a person convicted of murder could face multiple forms of execution, such as being hanged followed by being drawn and quartered. This brutal method involved tying the victim to horses, which would then be spurred in different directions, resulting in the severing of limbs.
The dismembered body parts would often be displayed on spikes, serving as a stark warning to the public about the consequences of committing crimes. Such practices were intended to deter others from similar actions by providing a graphic reminder of the severe penalties associated with murder. Mary Roach's book, "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers," highlights these historical punishments and their role in societal attitudes toward crime and justice.
