"For life" means maximum of 20 years in Germany. There is also preventive detention afterwards for people that are insane or would still be a danger to society

"For life" means maximum of 20 years in Germany. There is also preventive detention afterwards for people that are insane or would still be a danger to society etc. So there is a big difference between death penalty and 20 years. Also you can at least somehow correct the punishment if you "got the wrong guy".