"Several killin's were performed in these shoes," Billy continued, "but the karadji man doesn't always spear the criminal. The victim knows the executioner is always watching but he never knows when the blow will be struck."

Depending on the crime, the executioner might play with the fellow, leave signs that he'd been there while the criminal slept, move his things, or take something and return it another night. All these actions tell the victim the karadji could have killed him but left it for another day.

Ancient stalkers. The psychological warfare made the victim become obsessed with death. Rather than suffer the agony of awaiting the final blow, many people just wasted away. Often they met with an "accident" of their own design.

The young man asked what kinds of crimes could be punishable by death.

"Oh, lots of things," Billy said. "Rape, murder, if ya hurt a child or molest it...stuff like that."

"Is that the only type of punishment?" he asked.

"Oh, no. There's all sorts depending on the crime. Beatings, splinters up under the fingernails, stuff like that. You don't want to hear any more."