This is the kind of story that makes you wonder how people think we have advanced as a society over the centuries. If you were traveling through, say medieval Europe, and saw flames overtaking a guy who is being burned at the stake while a crowd mills around; you might ask "so, what's the story with this guy?". You're told "he raped his own children, so we burned him as a devil". You'd say "Okay" and be on your way.
Seems like they were more civilized then.