24/01/2014

Court Of Appeal To Consider Legality Of Whole-Life Sentence

Five leading Court of Appeal judges are to hear challenges today over whole-life terms.

The judges are to consider if the sentence of jail without the possibility of parole remains legally possible.

It follows a ruling last year by the European Court of Human Rights, saying that the jail term needed to be reviewed "at some point".

The judges are to look at the sentence in relation to two murderers currently serving the whole-life tariff.

It is also understood that the sentencing of the two men found guilty of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby is being delayed until the Court of Appeal has ruled on the issue.

(MH/JP)

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