I think many of these Islamic rulings are meant not so much to implement them, but more to so that general public realizes the seriousness of zina, or stealing, or murder. But then I'm not an Islamic scholar, and Umar (R), after all, DID implement these rules in his time, even so far as whipping his own child to death for alcohol use!
After all ,Islam does talk about stoning adulteres, and cutting out the hands of thieves and the heads of murders- and that's something we, as Muslims, cannot deny. These punishments seem awfully harsh, and yet it is written as part of Islam as wearing a hijab is- it is one of the more perplexing aspects of Islam. Nonetheless, one things is clear- THE CHILD SHOULD BE TREATED JUST AS FAIRLY AS ANY OTHE CHILD!