too much to bear

Anti-death penalty advocates have been waiting for the outcome of recent DNA tests to determine if Roger Coleman, who was executed in 1992, was indeed guilty of murdering and raping his sister-in-law. Many were hoping that the tests would indicate that he was innocent, knowing that if they did, it would serve as a strong catalyst for abolishing the death penalty.

I understand the tactic, but I was relieved to read this morning that the tests prove he was guilty. PR strategies aside, the thought of knowing the state (which means us, folks) killed an innocent man would simply be too much to bear.