Don’t Make ‘Hero’ Out of Cop Killer

* Re “Cop Killer Mai Gets Death,” April 20:

I do not believe in the death penalty, as it will not bring California Highway Patrol Officer Don J. Burt Jr. back to his family. However, Hung Thanh Mai’s crime is beyond any human understanding or any possibility of correction.

Putting him to death is only elevating him to a “hero” status by those who think as he does. It would make more sense for a life sentence with no parole possibility and all privileges of communication and entertainment strictly controlled and limited.

TRIET M. NGO

Long Beach

* Re “Rage in the Courtroom,” April 18:

I was stunned to learn that our legal system would permit a defendant, in this case Hung Thanh Mai, to petition for a mistrial because his courtroom outburst might affect the jury’s ability to render a fair verdict.

It seems to me that witnessing a courtroom outburst would increase a jury’s ability to render a fair verdict, since such an outburst would be indicative of the defendant’s true character.

ROD FREED

Mission Viejo