[fortes fortuna juvat]

You want to avoid needless deaths of innocent people? Use the death penalty a lot more frequently.
...........................................................
And not only more frequently but much more rapidly, like within two weeks of apprehension of the perp following a verdict of guilty. No exceptions and no appeals.

[Albion Wilde]

not only more frequently but much more rapidly, like within two weeks of apprehension of the perp following a verdict of guilty. No exceptions and no appeals.

Now that we have DNA proof, there should be no more lengthy appeals.