Is death penalty ethical?

The death sentence handed down to Saddam Hussein, has re-kindled this million dollar question. Many countries don't impose such a sentence. Should our judicial system hand down the death penalty to criminals? What are we achieving by doing it? Do we have the right to take the life of a person?

Some say it gives closure to the people affected by the crime. Should revenge be encouraged by our judicial system? Should we not give the perpetrator a chance to change?

I say give him/her life imprisonment without parole but don’t take his life. No one has the right to take another person’s life.