Then that means you hold them to a separate standard than you would your own kind. would you then turn and condemn a starving thief for his crimes? Or would you condemn the man that killed him to protect was is rightfully his? Or would you condemn neither, and understand that this is simply the way of nature?

[He's eyeing her over the rim of the tea mug as he takes a sip. He noted her hesitation, something he'd allow her for now. He supposed all her knowledge of his people would be whimsical fairy tales, without the harsh realities of nature. Still, he's taking stock of her answers.]

While it may not be intentional, by holding the two species to separate standards, you are expecting less from merfolk than you do humans. If you expect humans to be "better", then that implies that merfolk are incapable of that.