A very emotional installment.
I wholeheartedly agree that Clark has been treating Lois very shabbily and deserves any upbraiding he gets from his folks or Lois. Jonathan was right on. They are his parents and will always love him unconditionally, but Lois can't be expected to take hit upon hit and keep coming back. Clark has to decide if her 'really' does love her or not. If he can walk away, then it isn't really love.
On the other hand, I'm going to probably go against the general feeling of the fic and say that Superman is guilty. My Superman doesn't kill... period. I've always liked that in the past, it's been presented that Superman knows that because of his special gifts that he had to be held to a much higher standard than others. He has the power 'find another way' and he should never, under any circumstances, stoop to 'their' level when dealing with the bad guys. Superman doesn't have a badge, or any official standing which would allow him to use lethal force to stop a foe. Nor was he ever in any mortal danger which would justify self-defense.
One could say that Superman acted to 'save' the lives of others, but that was no longer a factor. Once he'd broken in on Bill Church, his capture of the man would have just as effectively stopped any further killing as had his murder of the man.
Since the story has not left the actual deed in doubt, only the motivation, I can only say that Superman is guilty of murder. Now I haven't checked into the reading of the actual statute for second-degree murder, and I'm sure the wording there is what you are counting on to provide the escape for the Man of Steel. I still believe in the absolute concept. Superman committed a murder.
Tank (who says that doesn't mean that he doesn't think that extenuating circumstances shouldn't allow Superman to get off with a greatly reduced or altered sentence)
