Lol at life sentences

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

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What a joke. On the radio over the last couple of days, the news has reported two different cases of people being sentenced to 'life'. Today, the leytonstone tube station attacker received a life sentence. At the end of the report, the reporter said "he'll serve a minimum of 8 years". :rolleyes:

The other case, I can't recall what is what for, but they said the judge has given him two life sentences. At the end of the report, the reporter said "he'll serve a minimum of 35 years".

Now call me stupid, but if you received TWO life sentences, and assuming one human life is on average 70 years long, then two back to back life sentences should be around 140 years. Why are they labelling these punishments as life? If someone deserves two life sentences, why would there be any chance of parole.
 
Isn't life a rather ambiguos term for a 25 year sentence and the minimum terms are the first time they can appeal on parole?

In England and Wales, life imprisonment is a sentence which lasts until the death of the prisoner, although in most cases the prisoner will be eligible for parole (officially termed "early release") after a fixed period set by the judge. This period is known as the "minimum term" (previously known as the "tariff"). In some exceptionally grave cases, however, a judge may order that a life sentence should mean life by making a "whole life order."
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Wiki says life is life but the judge can deal a suitable sentence before a first parole.
 
Well, I suspect that a Life Sentence means they can be kept in prison for life, if it is deemed appropriate during their incarceration.

The minimum bit means they aren't eligible for parole until at least that amount of time.
 
Its Okay, because they'll be rehabilitated into perfectly functional people according to everyone who says they're a liberal, but actually lives in luxurious conservative based ideals.
 
Human Rights innit? They have a right to a family life and privacy which locking them up and throwing away the key would violate. Of course they don't care about the victim's right to a family life that they'll never enjoy now they've been murdered. Oh btw we shouldn't worry about this - we're much more likely to die choking on our food.
 
But if someone is deemed so bad that they earn two life sentences, then it makes little sense to me that they might even consider releasing that person after around only a quarter of the duration originally set.
 
I do agree with the OP, its a stupid term, They should just state the length of time and the length of first parole. Not many people end up full term lifers unless they are serial killers.
 
It is kind of strange I know someone who committed actual murder and was out inside 10 years (on a life sentence) while one of my friends from school was done for attempted murder and is remanded indefinitely and will never be released.
 
My personal belief is that if you remove all rights of a person by causing them to no longer be here you at least must forego the vast majority of your rights the biggest is a massive loss of your freedom.
 
Merlin5 said:
Now call me stupid, but if you received TWO life sentences, and assuming one human life is on average 70 years long, then two back to back life sentences should be around 140 years.
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In the UK sentences seem to run 'concurrently', which i've never understood, as oppose to the more logical US sentencing when someone can get a 100 year plus sentence.
 
Rroff said:
It is kind of strange I know someone who committed actual murder and was out inside 10 years (on a life sentence) while one of my friends from school was done for attempted murder and is remanded indefinitely and will never be released.
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Attempted murder is exactly as serious as actual murder, the difference being you didn't manage to get the job done despite having the intent to do so.

So you're not actually mentioning a difference between those two.
 
Rroff said:
It is kind of strange I know someone who committed actual murder and was out inside 10 years (on a life sentence) while one of my friends from school was done for attempted murder and is remanded indefinitely and will never be released.
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' Murder ' is based on intent.

Both would have shown intent, though circumstances/age can drastically adjust the terms served..
 
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Moses said:
It's not a stupid term. Stupid people interpret it stupidly. The life sentence does stick with them for life, even if released from prison... it's still their hanging over them for life.

https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/types-of-offender/life
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Of course it is, simply because it says a life sentence, but actually it's exactly the length of time that article says "an indeterminate sentence"
Doesnt take Einstein to make the assumption that being sentence to your life should be pretty determinate, aka till your dead, not until we determine we fancy letting you out.
 
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Hotwired said:
Attempted murder is exactly as serious as actual murder, the difference being you didn't manage to get the job done despite having the intent to do so.

So you're not actually mentioning a difference between those two.
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Of course there's a difference. If the person who ACTUALLY murdered is out within 10 years, why would the person who didn't murder be kept indefinitely? There's no logic in that.

By the way Rroff, you clearly know some savoury people :p
 
Merlin5 said:
Of course there's a difference. If the person who ACTUALLY murdered is out within 10 years, why would the person who didn't murder be kept indefinitely? There's no logic in that.

By the way Rroff, you clearly know some savoury people :p
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You don't understand what Attempted Murder means then.

It means the intent to Murder was proven, making them as guilty as someone whose victim dies.

e.g. you run over Joe Bloggs in your car because he's sleeping with your wife

If he dies you're getting Murder

If he's not dead that's Attempted Murder

The law considers you equally as guilty in both cases because your intent was the same.


Here read this: http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.co.../crime-penalties/charged-attempted-murder.htm

Think it's american oriented but the explanation should be the same.
 
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Brizzles said:
In the UK sentences seem to run 'concurrently', which i've never understood, as oppose to the more logical US sentencing when someone can get a 100 year plus sentence.
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So you're telling me I should consolidate my murders into one trial to reduce my time in prison?

Interesting :o
 
Pho said:
So you're telling me I should consolidate my murders into one trial to reduce my time in prison?

Interesting :o
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Then you can declare yourself morally bankrupt and offer to serve your sentence at a rate of 1 hour a month. Wait, i'm getting this mixed up with something else aren't I?
 
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