What do you think the sentence should be for murder?

[Dumbo18]

Obviously there are many different circumstances but after today’s sentencing for the awful crime committed I couldn’t help but feel anger when I seen the sentence - I feel this with most murder sentences. I’m going to get flamed on here but here it goes… I just don’t agree with rehabilitation for these sort of crimes, main reason being why the hell should they get that opportunity? Child murderers, multiple murderers, serial rapists - you’ve ruined countless lives so why should you get another chance at life? I know that’s a view most people don’t have but I feel strongly about it and don’t get me started about what sentence these monsters should be handed!

I listened to the the judges entire sentencing speech and it was extremely nuanced and detailed. I think it unlikely that the girl (am purposely avoiding using her name) will ever be released.

I agree that a ‘one sentence fits all’ method is both unworkable and unreasonable.

I do not believe in the death penalty.

I cried a number of times during the sentencing hearing and found it unutterably sad for both Brianna and her parents. I also feel sad that these other 2 children are so so so disturbed.

Seeing as I’m not the first to say it here it goes… some people absolutely deserve the death penalty. It’s not something I ever thought I’d say up until having children of my own a few years ago but since then seeing and hearing what mothers and father do to their own child absolutely fills me with rage I never knew I had. At the bare minimum life should mean life

Life does mean life, the sentence is with them until they die. You mean life imprisonment should mean life imprisonment.

I feel very strongly that the death penalty is totally wrong. There have been so many miscarriages of justice where the person imprisoned for the crime is later exonerated.

The starting point for murder is life imprisonment but without possibility of parole for [x] years. This seems reasonable to me.

It's more of an issue that the probation service are horribly underfunded and the botched privatisation meant that many experienced probation officers left and therefore it is harder to keep track of released prisoners and ensure they're keeping to their licence terns.

not all killings are the same. women who murder men who abuse them shouldn't be held to the same standard as a gang member who randomly targets someone.

@SameSameButDeliverance ..same here. I found the explanations and considerations very interesting and thought the judge has clearly taken a very in-depth and wide ranging view of the circumstances. As a process...notwithstanding the incredibly sad and tragic death of B....it was far more nuanced and complex than I had realised.

It's more of an issue that the probation service are horribly underfunded and the botched privatisation meant that many experienced probation officers left and therefore it is harder to keep track of released prisoners and ensure they're keeping to their licence terns.

Yep

The judge said they gave shorter sentences because they are children. I think the fact that they planned a brutal murder at that age makes it worse. They're clearly little psychopaths that will never be rehabilitated and never released from prison. In such a premeditated brutal murder, it should be lifetime imprisonment

The problem with the idea that life sentence should mean whole of life in every case is that it means the offender has no incentive at all to participate in any therapy/ education/ constructive work, no hope of anything changing in their life. This puts prison staff in (more) danger

Life for a life thats How it should be to many people killing people and the age is now just getting younger hear about 11-16 17 year old stabbing people it’s not right

I'm not in favour of the death penalty but I do think people should be able to choose to be euthanised if they are convicted of murder. I wonder how many actually would though.

In some cases I am in favour of the death penalty.

for thr two sentenced today, they should never be released. Ever. To be such violent sadists at the age of 15 makes me think they will always be a danger.

Life in prison should mean life in prison.

I’m sure I’ve heard/read theories about why it’s not a good idea for life to mean life. That prisoners who are know they are locked up forever are harder to deal with, because they know no matter what they do they aren’t getting out, so there is no incentive to learn, change etc, there is no hope. People with hope and an incentive to try and become a better human being make a better prison environment. I’m not sure how true that is though!

A life for a life imo. Whether it’s rape, drunk driving, serial
killer etc. if you kill someone(or make their life not worth living) you lose your life too, so, prison ‘til you die.

Far too soft in this country.

As a society, we should address the reasons why children as young as 14, 15 are committing murder - be they premeditated, opportunistic, gang related or the result of a disturbed mind.

They are not evil. Ill (including sociopathy etc), emotionally stunted, disturbed, groomed, neglected they may be and as such we, as a society, owe it to children to protect them from being affected by such tragedy (either as perpetrators or victims).

Some very naive, idealistic comments about the death penalty.

Many killers are just monsters who enjoy killing and have no remorse whatsoever.

There is zero benefit for society to feed and house them for the rest of their life and no rehabilitation will ever work for this type of people.

I have no issues with them getting what they deserve and losing their life for what they did.

Are you prepared to give that lethal injection then?

This is a really good point - it's to the benefit of society as a whole if prison rehabilitates rather than purely punishes. That may not apply to these individuals but it does have to apply to a given prison overall, which means the environment matters.

@OpalOrchid or hold the gas mask over their mouth when the injection doesn’t work…

As far as the death penalty goes it's barbaric I think humans should be better than that

I also believe that one person wrongly convicted and put to death is just one too many.

Edited for an extraneous word

It's complex and nuanced. If you believe in the possibility of redemption then presumably that also applies to murderers.

The sentencing guidlines are formulated by putting various examples in front of panels comprised of members of the public, so it's not done in a political or legal vacuum.

I think you go to jail for the sentences given. No time of for ‘good behaviour’ or the expectation you will only serve half of it or in the case of life minimum tariffs

the great majority, regardless of what crime they have committed cannot or do not want to be rehabilitated

Re the death penalty. If someone murdered my kids, sure, I’d want to kill them with my bare hands. An ugly but perhaps natural instinct, and one that some people commenting on threads like this often seem to indulge in, to gain a sense of moral superiority. However, we have a flawed justice system capable of convicting the innocent even with the most advanced forensics. For that reason alone the death penalty should not be used. Second, I am also against it on libertarian grounds that the government shouldn’t have the right to lawfully kill. Third, revenge is not a good basis to improve society when there is potential for reform. The offer of assisted suicide to convicted murderers with 30+ year tarif is an interesting idea though.

Death penalty.