Well, I'm a new member and I didn't know the guy, so I do not mean any disrespect whatsoever, it's just that some commentaries caught my attention. Most importantly, it's the fact that you claim that he punished himself more than the law could. This is wrong. Suicide is the easy way out, something only for a weak-willed person. If he wanted to punish himself more than the law could, he would devote himself to a life as a monk, priest or something similar - this would allow him to ponder life, its sanctity and the respect it deserves - judging by the way he wrote the letter, he could have easily killed the policeman.
Also, you say respect the dead. Did I see any of America respect the dead civilians in Iraq, or the victims of some stupid bomber pilot in Kosovo? No.
I'm done. If you see flaws in my reasoning, I am open to corrections. However, my view of suicide as an easy way out for the weak-willed stays.