” but, instead, “Is it better that the guilty should die, or that the innocent should live?””
How does letting 10 murderers going to save innocent lives? I would rather than those 10 murderers put to sleep, because they would not be able to murder anyone further. If you are innocent, you have rights and FREE legal representation. Take responsibility of your own legal issues and you will be fine.
Wow. You really, really fail at understanding our English law heritage, don't you?
Blakstone's ratio was wholly in the realm (and context) of the judicial process answering exactly the question: which is it better do, to err on the side of convicting the falsely accused, or to err on the side of mercy to the guilty?
And, given that the criminal often commits more crimes, it's reasonable to chose the latter: for there will be more chances to catch the criminal. Yet, if the innocent are killed through a wrongful execution, how may that be corrected? They are already dead, and you cannot give life back, can you?