as to ...
Did we really need to butcher the pick-pocket?
well that is the choice of the group remember most people work in silver coins, those gold coins could keep him for a long time so he is willing to fight hard for what he stole, take a look at what he did take the purse , go in to a ally way with a cloke of invisabilty , use a anti mage poision on a mage for casting a spell, and when you get in to hand to hand trys to fight you off he is not an ordary theif. he is a pro at it.