Sometimes I totally fail to understand the british legal system

[mik 2]

I know it is a minimum, but is 8 years (minimum, I know) really fair for what this animal did to children?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8085736.stm

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I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

[kelpdiver 2]

"Owens, previously known as David Thomas Owens, stood unmoved as he was jailed for life, with the judging giving a minimum term recommendation of eight years."

Yes, this the part that confuses us. In the US sentences can be given that translate into 'life,' or we have 'life without possibility of parole.' (do we have life with possibility of parole?) But I think it would be very unusual for that sentence to be less than 20.

OTOH, 8 years might translate to 3 or 4 here.

[Adriandavies 0]

Too be honest I'm British and I don't understand sentences like this either. Whilst I'm no fan of death sentences I think that in a case like this a full life sentence would be far more appropriate. 8 years is much too short.

[nigel99 620]

Quote

Too be honest I'm British and I don't understand sentences like this either. Whilst I'm no fan of death sentences I think that in a case like this a full life sentence would be far more appropriate. 8 years is much too short.

Alternatively if we are going to allow shorter sentences then these characters should have the offending bits removed completely. I know that this would not necessarily stop their sick perversions but it may limit them. Ironically I believe many of these people get "special" treatment in prison as if they are put in normal cells they are at serious risk from other inmates.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[longtall 0]

Its not only the British ; In New Mexico the capital crime sentences seem very light. Less than 10 years for murder isnt uncommon. Theres been at least one case of a man completing his sentence for murder being released only to murder again. I wonder if the repeat murder sentences are tougher? (probably not).

" 90 right, five miles then cut."---Pukin Buzzards