There are two prisoners. They are both guilty of murder. They were caught by the police and were both in possession of illegal weapons.
Since the police can easily prove that both criminals violated weapons laws, both criminals will therefore serve a one year prison sentence.
However, if the police can also prove murder, then both prisoners will be executed in the electric chair.
The problem for the police is that unless they can get at least one of the prisoners to confess to murder they will be unable to get a murder conviction.
Therefore:
• if both criminals shut up, they will get one year jail.
• if either criminal confesses, both men will be sentenced to death.
The two criminals are not stupid and they realise the game that they are in.
DFQ #08
What should the prisoners do?