There is a story of a Buddhist sea captain who was attacked by pirates and to defend his passengers he killed the pirates. He knew the karmic suffering the pirates would face would be horrible if they continued their life of crime so he decided he would rather take on the bad karma himself, and face the consequences, than let the others suffer. This was done in defense of innocent lives when no other option was available.
However, capital punishment, the deliberate state-sanctioned and ritualistic killing of someone who cannot harm another, is always wrong. Always, without exception. If the person can be imprisoned or isolated from others, then the subsequent killing is done solely for revenge, which is harmful to all involved. Life in prison can be justified; ritualistic killing cannot.
Life is quite precious.
To kill for revenge harms all.
Karma will happen.
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