Now, this really is an example of a stupid judge...

[sandyRoe]

A minimum 10 year sentence doesn't seem nearly long enough for this dreadful crime.

http://uk.news.yahoo....friend-105256468.html

[emmie]

this is what i find so infuriating, the inconsistency, how is it that they can say a minimum of 10 years, why not say a life sentence to mean life in jail. He murdered a girl, what price is a life these days. Some of these judges are completely out of touch.

[Duncer]

The fact he stabbed her 60 times is reprehensible. I have dealt with many, many perpetrators who have done less and been sentenced to much more.

[queenofmean]

that is ridiculous. I think we should take a note from the American's when they say life - its life. You take a life you should forfeit your own

[Kerosene]

The only possible explanation may be that the judge took the offender's age into consideration as a mitigating factor?

Now I'm not for a second trying to justify the 'minimum ten years' sentence, but I'm giving on opinon on the rather emotive wording of the above title.

[mike11111]

s. 61 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861, (amended by subsequent legislation) provided that: "All persons convicted of murder shall be sentenced to death". Whilst the sentence was not always carried into effect it certainly drew a line in the sand.

[emmie]

i don't get this sentence, no matter what one says, 10 years minimum, it's horrible.

[grffindoor2011]

He pleaded guilty, maybe that is why he got a reduced sentence. Not many plead guilty, we usually have long drawn out cases that go to court months later costing the earth to put on.

A couple of people were saying to me earlier about him being 18 and her 15 and why he isn't on the sex offenders register. Another one to debate on.

[keyplus90]

I think even 10 years a bit too long as it is going to cost a lot to tax payers to accomodate him in a five star prison for over ten year period.

[Kerosene]

Mike11111,

Was your quotation from legislation prior to the abolition of the death sentence........or are you just hankering after the good old days?

[EDDIE51]

The sentence is Life not 10 years.
What this means is that the minimum time before the parole board can start to look at the possibility of release is 10 years. It does not mean the guy will be out in 10 years.
Every life sentence now must have a 'tariff' this is the minimum time until the prisoner can be considered for parole it is often misunderstood as being the time when a prisoner can will be released.

[chaptazbru]

Apparently he's 'extremely remourseful' - that's OK then ...

[sandyRoe]

Who? The judge or burglar Bill?

[Arti]

///What this means is that the minimum time before the parole board can start to look at the possibility of release is 10 years. It does not mean the guy will be out in 10 years. ///
I think most of us are aware what the word 'minimum' means. The other posters, and now me, are saying that the minimum should have been far greater.

[Brancaster]

Life is truly getting so cheap in the eyes of the judiciary now - does it really reflect the views of the majority of the public - do the sentencing guidelines reflect the views of the public or the liberal thinking judiciary and politicians - or is it the bean-counters at the Home Office who have to regulate the spending on the prisons?