Trial of Isil terrorists

SIR – Section 9 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 gives the United Kingdom the ability to prosecute any British subject who commits murder or manslaughter against another person, anywhere in the world.

Is this insufficient to bring Alexanda Kotey and Shafee El-sheikh to justice before a British court? Tony Houlihan

Windermere, Westmorland

SIR – Any subject of the Queen who goes into the service of terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant should be held accountable in Her Majesty’s courts – under the Treason Act, as well as the common law offence of murder.

Although the Act was passed in 1351, treason laws have evolved. Under an Act of 1998, the maximum penalty for high treason is life imprisonment.

Bringing such charges would show British justice means business – and at the same time avoid the martyrdom effect of an American death sentence. John Barstow

Pulborough, West Sussex