A man convicted of raping a nine-year-old girl has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and people online are saying the punishment still isn’t enough.
The 41-year-old, named David Mercer, was found guilty after a harrowing trial that detailed months of abuse. Prosecutors said Mercer showed “no remorse” and called the crime one of the most disturbing cases they’d ever seen.
When the sentence was read out, Mercer reportedly stood motionless as the judge told him he would “die behind bars.”
But after news of the verdict broke, social media erupted with outrage. “Life in prison isn’t enough — bring back the electric chair,” one commenter wrote, while another said, “He shouldn’t get to breathe the same air as the rest of us.”
Others, however, pointed out that life imprisonment ensures he’ll never harm another child again. “He’ll spend every day knowing exactly why he’s there,” another user commented.
The victim’s family released a statement thanking the court and community for their support, saying:
“No sentence will undo what happened, but justice has finally been served.”
Mercer has been transferred to a maximum-security facility where he will serve his sentence for the rest of his life.
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