How many of the other sentenced to death for desertion (during WW2) were executed? None. So why did the others get a pass?
That is the key question. Opponents of the death penalty say it isn't a deterrant (ignoring that it deterrs the person executed from committing more crimes.) The reason it isn't a better deterrant is that the odds of a henious criminal being executed are about those of a person being struck by lightning -- and we don't go around holding lightning rods over our heads, do we?