Life sentence...

Pc killer wins life term appeal

A former US marine who murdered a policeman has won an appeal against his "whole life" prison sentence.

David Bieber shot Pc Ian Broadhurst in the head at point blank range in Leeds on Boxing Day 2003, despite the officer pleading for his life.

The Court of Appeal said that the facts of Bieber's case, "horrifying though they were", did not justify a "life means life" sentence.

The American, 42, was told he will now serve a minimum of 37 years in jail.

never forget

My guess is that the tabloids will downplay this to an extent since they are currently taking a dim view of HONEST COPPERS in light of their failure to control FERAL KNIFE CRIME YOUTH or find POOR MADDY.

I don't understand the article, on what grounds are they reducing it?

I am reading this right, right?
Three judges headed by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, rejected an argument by Bieber's defence lawyers that whole-life jail terms in principle amounted to a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that no-one shall be subjected to "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".
My emphasis.

Same here, the substance of the article makes it appear that the appeal was rejected.

This makes more sense: http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jzG34U6gX2sjrxRPkpzN4B2uf7og

A claim by police killer David Bieber that his "whole life" prison sentence was a breach of his human rights has been rejected by the Court of Appeal.

But the court held that the particular facts of Bieber's case, "horrifying though they were", did not justify a "life means life" sentence.

So his appeal that his human rights were breached was rejected but they still reduced the sentence as they thought it excessive.

NAUSEATING DO-GOODER NANNY STATE JUDGES SHOULD RESIGN BEFORE THEY INCREASE CLIFF RICHARD'S TAXES

I think we can see how some of the papers are going to play this...

PC killer gets sentence slashed

Even though he'll be nearly 80 before he gets a chance at parole?

Er, wouldn't a minimum of 37 years for a 42 year old pretty much equal "his whole life" anyway? Or does someone think that when he's gonna get out around the time he's 80, he's immediately gonna go on another killing spree?

(x-post)

Mugabe is 84.

Yeah, but when it comes to the possibility of rehabilitation, I think there's a difference between a singular killing (even if it was gruesome) and multiple crimes repeated over several decades.

The State of Florida will be looking to have him extradited there if he's ever released.

I wonder if Florida would put an 80 year old man on death row.

It would depend on who he was intending to vote for.

The UK wouldn't extradite him if he faced execution, I don't think.

Though that stance could well change in the next 30-odd years.

What's the original story? Is the ex-Marine a lunatic or what?

Former marine (discharged for going AWOL) turned drug dealing body builder.
Allegedly tried to kill two people on Florida (or have them killed).
Fled to UK on a dodgy passport with identity stolen from dead child.
Got stopped in UK driving stolen car with dodgy plates.
Killed one policeman and tried to kill two others.
Had loaded gun in his possession when finally arrested.

aaand you.. who... philosophise disgrace...

Yeah, but when it comes to the possibility of rehabilitation, I think there's a difference between a singular killing (even if it was gruesome) and multiple crimes repeated over several decades.

-- Tuomas, Wednesday, 23 July 2008 13:21 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link

But rehabilitation isn't the only reason he's in prison. There's that whole deterrent thing.

The American, 42, was told he will now serve a minimum of 37 years in jail.

This seems so mealy-mouthed.