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According to the OT, an individual who violated the Mosaic law could only be put to death based on the testimony of 2-3 credible witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).
Could the witnesses and maybe the court give a chance for the criminal to repent and thus live? There's Biblical verses that show how sinful Israel can be spared from death and destruction if they repented (2 Chronicles 7:14) but not sure if it applied to the individual.
Can a Criminal repent and live? - Yes. The Murderer of Uriah the Hittite repented and was forgiven in 2 Samuel 12:13.
2 Samuel 12:13 | NIV : "Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you. — Deuteronomy 17:6–7
Notice the "deserving of death".
These two verses aren't saying that people must be executed, but quite the opposite.
The verses apply restrictions to the circumstances under which people are allowed to be executed:
In particular, if someone admits their offence, realizes that it was a wrong and stupid thing to do, and sincerely wants to never do it again, the judges or witnesses could decide that the criminal is not deserving of the death penalty.
The execution is not mandatory, but the criminal would still be responsible for any consequences of the crime, and must still make compensation therefor. This is a common principle throughout Biblical Law.
Execution shouldn't happen unless the judges and the witnesses all want it to.
Could the witnesses and maybe the court give a chance for the criminal to repent and thus live?
Yes.
There's Biblical verses that show how sinful Israel can be spared from death and destruction if they repented (2 Chronicles 7:14) but not sure if it applied to the individual.
Yes, it applied to the individual.
Ezekiel 33:14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— 15if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. 16None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
Zacchaeus was an example.
Luke 19:5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Let me quote some examples of how the law was supposed to work:
Eze 18:20-23
20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. ... 21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
2 Sam 12:9-13 (David and Nathan)
9 Why then have you [David] despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ ...
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
“The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die."
Ps 51:3, 4
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
Dan 9:18
For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
2 Sam 24:14
David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
Acts 2:36-38
Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One could also quote the example of other murderers such as the apostle Paul himself (1 Tim 1:12-16) and many more.
