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Brianna Ghey's killers given life sentences for brutal murder (www.bbc.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] fluxion 16 points 9 months ago (3 children)

22 and 20 years, not sure where "life sentences" came from

[–] [email protected] 24 points 9 months ago (1 children)

UK law is different

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

They'll be on parole for life if released after the minimum sentence and there's no guarantee they get released after the minimum sentence but the burden of proof would then be on them still being a risk, there's a handful of prisoners (maybe most famously Charles Bronson) who never get released

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

In the UK we have minimum terms. Basically the life sentence stands and if released on parole (after the minimum term) then they will be on licence which means they can be returned to prison at any time if it is believed they present a danger in general or break the terms of their licence, without trial.

We do have whole life terms but they are reserved for the most serious murders, such as serial killers

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

https://www.gov.uk/types-of-prison-sentence/life-sentences#:~:text=If%20you're%20found%20guilty,the%20rest%20of%20your%20life.

[–] d00ery 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I know it's an official govt link you've provided, but it's a little misleading. I think in this case the 20 / 22 years is the minimum they will serve.

When a judge passes a life sentence, they must specify the minimum term an offender must spend in prison before becoming eligible to apply for parole (sometimes called the tariff).

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-and-the-council/types-of-sentence/life-sentences/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_imprisonment_in_England_and_Wales

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It seems the life part means they can’t be put back in prison for life. That’s how I read it. I’m not overly familiar with UK law and that seems to be the difference

[–] d00ery 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They'll be on license for life, which means if they break the terms of their release (parole) they can be returned to prison.

If released, an offender serving a life sentence will remain on licence for the rest of their life. If they are ever thought to be a risk to the public they could be recalled to prison. They do not need to have committed another offence in order to be recalled.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That’s very different about the American system. I’m all for reform but I worry about people who murder.

[–] d00ery 1 points 9 months ago

Murder is murder and this was clearly premeditated, with 3 other potential victims mentioned. However 15 and 16 is relatively young, and 20 years is longer than they've both been alive. Maybe people change, maybe they don't.