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18/02/2014
Appeal Court Rule Whole-Life Sentences Can Be Used
Whole-life prison terms can continue to be served for the most serious of cases, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
The ruling follows a call by the European Court of Human Rights that the use of whole-life tariffs should be reviewed.
The appeal court has now ruled that while a whole-life sentence should be reviewed after 25 years, it does not stop the term from being used by judges in the most serious of cases.
The ruling comes amongst two appeals. The attorney-general, Dominic Grieve, had appealed a 40 year sentence given to convicted murderer Ian McLoughlin, arguing that it was unduly lenient. The court of appeal subsequently increased the sentence to a whole-life term.
And an appeal by convicted murderer Lee Newell, who argued his whole-life sentence was "manifestly excessive" was dismissed by the court.
Sentencing has been delayed in several high profile cases, such as the murderers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, pending the outcome of the appeal court ruling.
Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were convicted in December of Mr Rigby's murder but the judge said that he would defer sentencing until after the Court of Appeal had ruled on the use of whole-life sentences.
(MH)
The ruling follows a call by the European Court of Human Rights that the use of whole-life tariffs should be reviewed.
The appeal court has now ruled that while a whole-life sentence should be reviewed after 25 years, it does not stop the term from being used by judges in the most serious of cases.
The ruling comes amongst two appeals. The attorney-general, Dominic Grieve, had appealed a 40 year sentence given to convicted murderer Ian McLoughlin, arguing that it was unduly lenient. The court of appeal subsequently increased the sentence to a whole-life term.
And an appeal by convicted murderer Lee Newell, who argued his whole-life sentence was "manifestly excessive" was dismissed by the court.
Sentencing has been delayed in several high profile cases, such as the murderers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, pending the outcome of the appeal court ruling.
Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were convicted in December of Mr Rigby's murder but the judge said that he would defer sentencing until after the Court of Appeal had ruled on the use of whole-life sentences.
(MH)
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24 January 2014
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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".
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".
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Pair Found Guilty Of Lee Rigby Murder
Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale have been found guilty of murdering soldier Lee Rigby. Fusilier Rigby was killed as he made his way back to Woolwich barracks in south-east London on 22 May. The soldier was struck by a car before being dragged into the road and attacked with knives and a meat cleaver.
Pair Found Guilty Of Lee Rigby Murder
Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale have been found guilty of murdering soldier Lee Rigby. Fusilier Rigby was killed as he made his way back to Woolwich barracks in south-east London on 22 May. The soldier was struck by a car before being dragged into the road and attacked with knives and a meat cleaver.
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Judge Calls For Complete DNA Database
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Judge Calls For Complete DNA Database
A senior British judge has called for everyone in the UK and every visitor to be added to the national DNA database. Lord Justice Sedley, one of England's most experienced Appeal Court judges, told the BBC that the current database in England and Wales, which contains DNA from suspects and crime scenes, was "indefensible".
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