Letter: Saudi justice

Sir: Under Saudi law, a relative of a victim of crime has the responsibility of deciding the fate of an offender; his decision is made as a member of Saudi society and in the full knowledge that in different circumstances it would be himself or one of his loved ones whose fate was in the balance. How can it possibly be reasonable for Frank Gilford to take the decision over the fate of Deborah Parry when neither himself nor any of his loved ones will ever face the prospect of death by the sword?

P Pearl

London N10