If the tribe really is one where some form of the light horse still has jurisdiction, then there might be a finite number of tribes it could actually be, and their legal methods and penalties might be well known enough that an informed person might be able to say what could and could not happen.
I don't think I am particularly informed.
I know that in the late nineteenth century that some of the tribes considered imprisonment cruel and unusual, and so their tribal police only practiced corporeal and capital punishment.
I'd suggest that alcohol might have been involved in your story's murder. I'd further suggest that part of the leniency for the killing might be him, afterwards, going off alcohol entirely in remorse. Or that if alcohol was not involved, he might have spent much of his later life as a wretched, hateful drunk. (Thinking back over a case I'd heard of reminded me of the alcohol factor. I don't remember the story well enough to retell it.)
Anyway, I had this written up a while back, I'll see if I can come up with something on the actual presentation any time soon.
I don't think I am particularly informed.
I know that in the late nineteenth century that some of the tribes considered imprisonment cruel and unusual, and so their tribal police only practiced corporeal and capital punishment.
I'd suggest that alcohol might have been involved in your story's murder. I'd further suggest that part of the leniency for the killing might be him, afterwards, going off alcohol entirely in remorse. Or that if alcohol was not involved, he might have spent much of his later life as a wretched, hateful drunk. (Thinking back over a case I'd heard of reminded me of the alcohol factor. I don't remember the story well enough to retell it.)
Anyway, I had this written up a while back, I'll see if I can come up with something on the actual presentation any time soon.