I think you are missing the point.

PARIS - Zacarias Moussaoui's mother said Thursday a life sentence for her son was more cruel than putting him to death because now he will "live like a rat in a hole."

*gets on her soapbox for a brief moment*

I'd like to congratulate the members of the jury on this trial for not only doing their civic duty, but for making a commendable decision in the face of what must have been an extremely difficult set of circumstances.

I am not decided on the death penalty. In this case, however, I was very opposed to it. Putting this man to death would allow him to die the death of a martyr. Allowing him to live for the rest of his life, in solitary confinement gives him a virtual eternity to think about all the evil that he helped perpetrate. If there is one man who deserves to "live like a rat in a hole" it is Zacarias Moussaoui.