Is This Fair?

[ChillDoubt]

Whilst I would never condone what he did this does seem a tad cruel, considering that he has paid his debt to society:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28905473

It would appear that the celebrity status of his victim means he may never see the light of day. But has justice already been served(and then some) and is he now being kept inside out of pure spite?

[agchristie]

This is such a good question which raises a number of issues. In fact, I am going to give it more consideration before I come back to it....

[Brinjal]

Well he was sentenced to 25 years to life so I suppose if they decide to go with life it's all within the stipulation of the sentence.

[ChillDoubt]

20 Brinjal, not 25, so he's already 13 over the minimum and has doubtless had treatment during that time.

[ummmm]

No, it's not fair.

[Graham-W]

If he is no longer considered to be a danger to society he should be released.
However, if it is considered that society would be a danger to him either keep him in prison or be prepared to protect him when he comes out. There are still a lot of nutters out there (here).

[TWR]

There is no Justification for Murder Chill, I will say I have debated this subject many times, with DNA of the 20 Century a conclusion is 100% right, but what about the rights of the person that has been murdered? they have, in some cases been deny the ability to re-produce! no one seems to think about that side of the victims life, I understand the bible states, a life for a life! this bloke is very lucky to have the ability to appeal after been fed & Clothed in a warm cell, did John Lennon?

[ChillDoubt]

There is no Justification for Murder Chill,
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Indeed not, which is why I said I would never condone what he did.
As for the rest, John Lennon had 2 children and certainly a very comfortable lifestyle, but those are moot points in this case.
I'm just reasoning that he was obviously disturbed at the time of the crime and in the interim period must have had psychiatric help, plus his case is dissimilar to anything in UK i.e. it's not as if he has done half and had early release for good behaviour, quite the opposite.

[Gromit]

Yes it is fair.

His sentece was an indeterminate life sentence. He could apply for parole after 20 years and has done so. But the authorities can decide that the life sentence still applies and deny the parole request, which they keep doing.

[Peter Pedant]

He crazy innit ?

You wouldnt say the Yorkshire Ripper - he has done his time - let's let him out...
You will recollect that the ripper ran an unsuccessful defence of insanity at his trial and then later was admitted to a secure unit as a severely disturbed schizophrenic

[ChillDoubt]

Not entirely sure Chapman and Sutcliffe are even in the same ball park, but hey-ho.

[jno]

if he was disturbed at the time of the killing, how on earth do we know whether he still is or not?

[TWR]

IF Released, how long would it be before someone had a pop at him?

[maggiebee]

Chilly, I feel that the celebrity status of the victim is certainly a factor in this whole debate. There are murderers walking the streets today who have served less than their whole sentence (time off for good behaviour). There may be other reasons of course why he is not being paroled, but we will never be privy to them.

[ChillDoubt]

if he was disturbed at the time of the killing, how on earth do we know whether he still is or not?
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Just a guess but I would have assumed his team would have addressed and covered that at the parole hearings he's had thus far.

[anneasquith]

i do wonder if remaining in prison is for his protection. ?

[ummmm]

I don't think prisoners in the UK get time off for good behaviour anymore.

[maggiebee]

Maybe not ummmm, but my daughter-in-law's sister was murdered by her husband. It was classed as a "domestic" and he was not deemed to be a danger to society. He therefore only served 9 years of a 12 year sentence and has been released. This incident devastated the whole family including his son who was only 6 at the time. He doesn't even want to know his son and has remarried. Was justice served? Maybe but the family are still paying the price.

[ummmm]

They get time off for a guilty plea.

The way the law works baffles me.

[ToraToraTora]

I think life should mean life anyway.