FOR what it’s worth, as someone who is in favour of capital punishment for certain crimes, I was very pleased to hear that Leeds Crown Court has handed out a 20 year sentence to the 16-year-old Will Cornick.

This teenage pupil stabbed his teacher Ann Maguire in the back seven times – a cowardly act of violence after which, sadly, she died.

Have we now turned a corner?

Have we now reached a stage where those in authority have finally realised that a message must be given to those who commit such crimes – you take a life in anger, then you forfeit your own – it’s that simple and so very easy for them to understand.

Joan McTigue, Independent councillor, Middlesbrough