Whats a discretionary life term

It's a life sentence.
He was convicted of an offence that does not carry a mandatory life sentence, like Murder does. So the Judge can impose a fitting sentence within the guidelines, and the maximum sentence written into the legislation, which is life imprisonment in this case.
The Judge has sentenced him using the guidelines and legislation to the maximum available to him, life.
The 14 years is the minimum he will serve before being considered for parole. That does not mean he will get it. if he did, like all life sentences he would remain liable to recall to prison if he misbehaved in any way.
 
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for an offence like this it should be life without ever seeing the light of day.
 
Thanks for that Bernie, I was curious to what it actually meant. Probably the sad reality is a second to none free education and constructive surgery so they can roam the streets post parole (Venebles style).
 
Dibbledibbledibbleguardianreadingleftiespcgonemad
 
The report indicates he will be able to apply for parole after 6 and a bit years but likely to remain in custody for longer, the initial period in a young offenders unit. Meanwhile the parents and the girl have a life sentence where life means life without any chance of parole other than an early death. Doesn't seem quite fair to me.
 
The report indicates he will be able to apply for parole after 6 and a bit years but likely to remain in custody for longer, the initial period in a young offenders unit. Meanwhile the parents and the girl have a life sentence where life means life without any chance of parole other than an early death. Doesn't seem quite fair to me.
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I had an elder sister who was seriously mentally handicapped, she had the mental age of a 5 year old, and had fits to add to the mix. My parents didn't have a life sentence, nor did anyone else in the family.
I'm sorry, I see why you are making the point, but it is a point based on an emotional reaction, not necessarily the reality.
Making an emotional assumption to justify attacking a sentence isn't helpful.
The Judge made his decision, Justice has been done. I don't doubt he will walk in a few years time, but like I said, he will always have the rest of his sentence hanging over him, one foot wrong and back to porridge. His sentence was for what he did, not what the consequences might be long term.
 
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ST4 said:
It's crimes like this where the death sentence needs to make a welcome return.
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Death sentence, for a crime committed by a 15 year old?
Seriously?

As awful as the crime was, I don't see capital punishment as the answer. I( also do not agree with the fact that he COULD be out in just over six years.
 
andy700 said:
Death sentence, for a crime committed by a 15 year old?
Seriously?

.
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Absolutely. Deadly (no pun intended) seriously. I hope his life is cut short behind bars and just because he's 15 doesn't stop me wanting a violent person like that out of this earth.

This wasn't a drunken fumble but a horrific violent premeditated attack. The violence is off the scale. It wasn't like he was even drunk, on drugs, fighting but cold blooded attempted murder.

I hope Bernie is right that the life sentence will keep him from doing this once out of jail but I doubt it. I dread what he's capable of as he gets older .
 
Always a chance he will get stabbed in prison
 
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Bernie174 said:
Probably not. It's rare for a prisoner to get a kicking or worse these days.
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it happens everyday think of the staff who have to stop it, (if they don't they could lose their job)
 
Bernie174 said:
I had an elder sister who was seriously mentally handicapped, she had the mental age of a 5 year old, and had fits to add to the mix. My parents didn't have a life sentence, nor did anyone else in the family.
I'm sorry, I see why you are making the point, but it is a point based on an emotional reaction, not necessarily the reality.
Making an emotional assumption to justify attacking a sentence isn't helpful.
The Judge made his decision, Justice has been done. I don't doubt he will walk in a few years time, but like I said, he will always have the rest of his sentence hanging over him, one foot wrong and back to porridge. His sentence was for what he did, not what the consequences might be long term.
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Having a child born with a disability is a chance we all take (and should be aware of) when we decide we try for a family, having someone impose that on what was a mindless act of violence isn't with respect the same thing. I understand what you are saying in that you and your parents don't see it as a life sentence in terms of a burden, but was justice done, in whose eyes? He got the maximum the law allows but was it justice? Personally I don't agree with Capital punishment, however I do feel society needs and should be protected, if this person is likely to commit a similar crime upon release he should not be released, it shouldn't be a case of putting him back in gaol after he comitts another crime having been released early. My reaction to the sentence wasnt emotional but based on a fear this person will repeat offend and that should not be allowed to happen, prison should reform not punish and release, which is how the system works, in my view incorrectly, at present. Until it reforms the criminal into a law abiding citizen the repeat offending will continue, for minor crimes this isn't a serious problem, for serious crimes it is.
Matt
 
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I really don't like or agree with the sentencing in this country and would much rather prisoners served the time they are given. Now if that means that instead if 5 years out in 3 you simply got 3 years so much the better. Much more clear cut. The X years you get is the term and any naughtiness means it gets added to. I don't see how a life sentence can be 15, 20 or any other number if years. Why call if life if it's not life (likewise I don't understand the US system where you may serve 150 years!)
 
Matt

You're assuming he will go onto commit further offences. You can't know that.
I'm 100% behind you on society being protected, and him being behind bars at the moment is doing exactly that. Prison does reform some, the problem is though it is so far down the line for most criminals, that by the time they get a custodial sentence it's far too late.
It's the community sentences that work badly and do nothing to reform, they are seen as getting away with it.

Simon

If you get convicted of any offence you only serve around a third. Life is no different, in that you will usually only serve a proportion of it. It does however mean life and the threat of recall is always there which is the deterrent. I have never looked at the re offending rate for lifers, but my impression is that it is very low.
 
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cambsno said:
I really don't like or agree with the sentencing in this country and would much rather prisoners served the time they are given. Now if that means that instead if 5 years out in 3 you simply got 3 years so much the better. Much more clear cut. The X years you get is the term and any naughtiness means it gets added to. I don't see how a life sentence can be 15, 20 or any other number if years. Why call if life if it's not life (likewise I don't understand the US system where you may serve 150 years!)
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while I don't entirely disagree , time off for good behaviour is one method that keeps prisons peaceable - take that away and it will be harder for the guards to ensure a reasonable standard of behaviour.

on point I believe a discretionary life term means he could be kept in for life if parole isn't granted - although since he's clearly a head case sectioning him and locking him up for good in an asylum might have been a better option (since a 9mm behind the ear isn't on the cards)
 
although since he's clearly a head case sectioning him and locking him up for good in an asylum might have been a better option
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If Sectioned, once he's considered sane he has to be released. The chances are he would therefore have served far less than a life sentence.
 
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