The prosecution did not make a deal that ruled out the death penalty because it felt kindly toward these three men, who, after all, have admitted to killing nearly 3,000 people in one day. The prosecution agreed to the deal because there is almost zero chance that the accused will be executed after a trial. The evidence is tainted by torture. And the process of actually bringing them to trial is laborious beyond belief—like climbing Mount Everest with crampons made of butter. Years have passed with no progress. Now the pointless and expensive standstill will resume.