Aren't they both really life sentences??
Just one life is slightly shorter than the other?
I think death sentences should be handed down like.. "Death in 3 years!" Meaining you have 3 years to appeal, or whatever else you need to do, then BANG.. end of story!
Or, you have 3 years to regret the decision you made to kill another person and be fearful of your death sentence, then BAM...you die in the manner you murdered.