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The authors of the Bill of Rights included the 8th Amendment because they knew people like this exist, and we would want to flay them alive. Or worse. The 8th Amendment reminds us that we’re the good guys, and we don’t torture people to death even if they deserve it.

While I can't justify torturing the criminal to death, the death penalty NEEDS to be reinstated.

And used far more often.

For all the whining about the *rights* of the murders to not having cruel and unusual punishment, they are doing a disservice to those who the criminals did inflict cruel and unusual punishment on.

Their victims were robbed of their right to live. They didn't have any say in it.

The murderer/torturer has forfeited his right at that point.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you wrote, but it's rather beside my point.

The 8th Amendment reminds us that we’re the good guys, and we don’t torture people to death even if they deserve it.

Much as I might want (being the fallen sinner that I am) to inflict some clever and exceptionally painful death on this fellow, torturing people to death is inhuman and unGodly. It shows a callous disrespect for God's creation of human life. It attempts to usurp God's position as the ultimate arbiter of justice. It appeals to our basest instinct.

Respect for human life does, IMO, demand the ultimate penalty of death for some crimes. It also demands that the penalty be carried out efficiently, and without gratuitous infliction of pain. Torture is bad for the torturer's soul.