The kid had been kidnapped a few days before (AFAIR clearly less than a week) and was hoped to be alive but stashed in some hideout. They were NOT after confession, but the whereabouts, hoping he was still alive and found early enough to be found still alive.

>Torture should not be acceptable in any circumstances IMHO. What good is a confession obtained under torture? I would probably say whatever my torturer would want me to say, even if it's not true, just to stop the pain.
>
>>Agreed - and I also think torture should be excused as an exception only in certain circumstances. But those exceptions should
>>
>>a) be more clearly formulated
>>b) give more weight to the victims side (only when the "guilt" is already clear)
>>c) give room for situations where the true state of affairs is not known at decision time
>>d) leave a correction space.