T. WHISENHANT BURTALLY MURDERED FOUR WOMEN IN ALABAMA. AT THE TRIAL, THE JURY COULD ACQUIT THE DEFENDANT FOR INSANITY OR FIND HIM GUILTY AND IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY. THEY COULD NOT LESSEN THE CHARGE OR IMPOSE A DIFFERENT SENTENCE. SINCE THE COURT WITHHELD KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF HE WERE ACQUITTED, THE JURY CONVICTED HIM TO PROTECT SOCIETY, ALTHOUGH SOME PSYCHIATRISTS TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS INSANE. AFTER SUCH A CONVICTION, ALABAMA LAW CALLS FOR A HEARING BEFORE THE TRIAL JUDGE, AFTER WHICH HE MUST DECIDE BETWEEN THE DEATH SENTENCE AND NONPAROLABLE LIFE IMPRISONMENT. AT THE SENTENCE HEARING, THE PROSECUTOR CALLED A LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR AS A WITNESS. HIS TESTIMONY, REPRODUCED HEREIN, COMMENDS THE JURY FOR CONVICTING TO PROTECT SOCIETY, AS THE ONLY PRACTICAL VERDICT. THE SUPREME COURT HAS FOUND THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE CANNOT BE RETRIBUTIVE ALONE, BUT MUST BE RETRIBUTIVE AND DETERRENT. HOWEVER, SICK MURDERERS ARE NOT DETERRED BY DEATH SENTENCES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)