Unfortunately, giving the death penalty for child rape gives the rapist an incentive to kill the child. Nothing to lose.
A life sentence would protect other children from the rapist.
Yeah tell that to 13 year old Esme Kenney...
Coroner: Esme Kenney Strangled, Burned
http://www.wlwt.com/news/18895267/detail.html
In 1987, when he was 18, Kirkland confessed to assaulting a woman, dousing her with lighter fluid and setting her on fire. She later died and he served 16 years in prison for her death.
Death is the only answer for these monsters.