It prevents the prosecution of other crimes the condemned has committed, potentially leaving murders unsolved. The case of William Bradford has been in the news a lot lately in Southern California, because investigators are trying to determine if any of the unidentified women he photographed may have also been killed.
From the article:
Even Bradford hinted at other victims after he fired his lawyers and gave his own closing argument:
“Think of how many you don’t even know about,” he told jurors.
That turns the tables against the “closure” argument for capital punishment.
Update: Thank God, it appears that most of the women in the photos are alive and well. But at least one isn’t. And since Bradford hasn’t been executed, he can be questioned about the case.