finally What was the role of the condemned – acting or only the object of the action of others – respected or humiliated – presenting one’s own message or only the messages of others? How interesting was it to shape the image of oneself? And naturally, what was the result of the execution, extinction, heaven, hell, or? Also, the eager criminal in waiting could change strategy and, not least, the story and motive given to ensure reaching the desired outcome, or also to abort a plan if the longing had disappeared. Thereby any specific legislation or practice aimed at these crimes, defining them by their motives, could, and often did, fail to fulfil its purpose. Here it is important that we remember that we deal with individuals and their motives and therefore also their alterations of for example motives or strategies could be incomprehensible to others. Here it sounds like those committing these crimes really wanted to die or be executed. In some cases the reality probably was quite different. From London we hear the fear of a horrible life in Australia. From Australia we hear of the reality. And that was not the only place where it was horrible. From Vienna a number of crimes in a prison led to an enquiry in 1712 seeking to limit whippings, see to that the inmates got enough food to live, and do something about the “almost unbearable stench”.941 Thus, fleeing from horrible conditions could also be a motive. When it comes to the choice of victims when the chosen crime was murder we can see some other principles at work than at other murders. One is that the victim is easy to fulfil the crime on – a survivor would often not do. A soldier on guard uses his gun to shoot somebody nearby and a babysitter kills a child. Yet it seems like children were more popular as victims than elderly and weak that also would have been easy victims. Here, at least in some cases, the idea that it probably would be easier for a young and baptised child to go to heaven was important. Some victims were those that themselves wanted to die or at least accepted it. Finally we come to the most traditional motive of all, when the victim was 941 Stuart 2023 p 285. 268
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