[Rifleman]

Re your first 'graph: The two cases are congruent in that the law of the time and place was followed resulting in abominable cruelty and injustice to the victim.

Re your second 'graph: Ok, how would you feel about turning in hidden Jews in 1940 Germany? One must follow the law...right?

Re your third 'graph: I care not a fig about how stern a law is, only how just it is. Murderers serve less time than that. If this girl's chastity (if any) was devalued, perhaps her family has a civil claim. Inequitous sentences like this one hold the law up for ridicule and scorn. Not, to my mind, a good thing.