While they are many different levels of "assault", on some of them we will simply have to agree to disagree. Some assaults can leave the victim alive but completely destroy their lives leaving a person an "empty shell". I equate that to a lifetime of torture and the death of a guilty person to prevent that from happening is logically appropriate if it is required.
As a person with a severe mental illness, a member of several mental illness groups, and someone who knows a few people with mental health problems that mean they are unable to function in the real world in any meaningful way, I can happily say that you are better off alive, because even as an empty shell there is the possibility of joy in your future. I know a paranoid schizophrenic who hasn't left his house in about 11 years, he's unable to communicate with people from the outside world without it causing him extreme emotional distress that can last months, and yet he hasn't killed him self. Why? Because sometimes, just sometimes he can be happy.
I know people who's mental health problems stem from extreme emotional, sexual and physical abuse sustained over many years, these people would rather be alive swell.
In my opinion, and in my experience the potential lost by the ending of a life is a tragedy as every life has the potential to be magnificent and beneficial to the others in the world, even if it's only for a moment.
An assault, no matter how brutal, does end and can be recovered from, a death is absolute.
Sorry, I got that from Mono's post and didn't confirm that you actually stated it. I stand corrected.
No problem, sorry for snapping.