Complex sentence: Less severe offenders would be cudgelled'top down', with the first blow to the neck causing death; more heinous criminals were punished'bottom up', starting with the legs, and sometimes being beaten for hours.
Split into simpler sentences: Less severe offenders would be cudgelled'top down', with a lethal first blow to the neck. More heinous criminals were punished'bottom up', starting with the legs, and sometimes being beaten for hours.