The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce2008

Philip Conolly:
The ignominious results of disobedience to law and humanity cannot be ignored. Blood must atone blood, society requires it. Pearce's crimes are confirmed and systematic. They can't be met with leniency. Indeed they should be pursued with vengeance and made good with his death. Yet what I have seen is dreadful suffering often drives desperate men to horrific acts. This man, I prepare for the gallows, arrived here depraved, already proficient in distilling lawless habits, but here in Van Dieman's Land took succor amongst the most unprincipled people in the universe. A wicked and perverse generation addicted to adultery, blasphemy, idleness, malice, dishonesty and drunkenness. A recalcitrant amongst reprobates, Pearce was sent to Sarah Island, a place of secondary punishment. If flogging can school a man, Pearce should be principled for two thousand lashes were applied to his back, more than any man before or since. Instead he absconded. He witnessed murders, murdered himself, escaped and murdered again. He has eaten human flesh. He is a beast made mad by beatings. He will die here, in a strange land, alone, caged, having learnt nothing but pain, piss, sh*t, blood and death. It's inhuman from start to finish. I'm sickened by it. But yes I offer him comfort as he awaits death at His Majesty's pleasure. I do it for fear Mrs Brown.