By MINDELL SMALL, Guardian Senior Reporter

mindell@nasguard.com

In the midst of a national debate on capital punishment - where polls suggest that most Bahamians support it - a local pastor braved the airwaves on Tuesday to speak against the practice.

Founder of Turning Point Ministries, Paul Miller, using numerous Biblical references, told 'Real Talk Live' with host Jeff Lloyd that he is against hangings and added that anyone who is in favour of state-sanctioned executions does not understand the concept of true forgiveness. "Ladies and gentleman, please look at this in the spirit, please do not look at this in the flesh," he said. "Galatians 5 said if we walk in the spirit, we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. No Christian, or no person on planet earth, should be pushing for the life of someone else to be taken, because it's not going to solve the situation." He then asked, "If Christ was on earth today, would he go in Fox Hill and hang the young men on death row?" A caller interjected saying, "I'm sure if someone in your family was killed you will feel it, you would want capital punishment."

"No," Mr Miller responded. "Because in 1999, my brother Kendrick Anthony Miller lost his life. He was murdered. He went home after a hard day's work and the next time I saw my brother he was lying in the morgue. "The Bible tells me if they (police) should ever find out who did it, I must still love them (the killers). As a matter of fact, my Bible tells me I should be the one to go on death row for the two young men that did it," he added. However, Mr Miller's father called the show and said he disagreed with his son on hanging and was seeking justice for the person(s) who murdered Kendrick. "For someone to go and brutally kill someone, like they killed my son six years ago (Oct 14, 1999), I cannot see me nor the state having sympathy on that person. I'm sorry," he said. Former attorney Ortland Bodie called the show saying he was opposed Mr Miller's views. "Mr Miller can have his opinion but the majority of the people in this country are demanding and are calling for the imposition of the death penalty," said the attorney who has argued many murder cases.

Mr Bodie also blasted politicians who are seemingly attempting to score political points over the issue. "And I want to say that it was totally wrong for persons like politicians to use these events (capital punishment) to sensationalise their support or their opposition to the death penalty."