In the light of recent news I know a lot of people will be asking the same question: Does life mean life?
After the devastating case of the death of 6 children in a house fire in Derby due to the actions of their parents and a family friend and over in the States the 'Craig's list killer', it's not surprising that people would ask such a question.
The treatment of these two cases have been very different. In the UK, the father was sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years to be served, and two 17 year sentences for the mother and family friend of which half must be served. In contrast to this the 'Craig's list' killer received the death penalty.
Now, it is important to point out that in the UK the sentence was that of manslaughter and in the US it was of aggravated murder.
But the treatment of these two cases separated by the 'big pond' in between got me thinking. Do people in the UK know what a life sentence entails? In the UK, life does actually mean life. You serve your minimum term and if you are no longer a risk to the public you are released on a PERMANENT licence. If you commit another crime then you go straight back to prison. If you are deemed to still be a risk then you stay in prison until it is decided otherwise.
In the US it's very different, they have death row and the death penalty after all.
I would NEVER advocate the death penalty, I do not believe that anyone has the right to take another life but in light of the news in the UK I can sympathise with why people would think such a sentence would be appropriate for this heinous act.
The presiding judge noted that this was a case with no precedent in law. From this comment we can adduce that this was a VERY unique case.
Our thoughts are with the family of the Philpott children and with the families of the victims of the 'Craig's list' killer.
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