Why Do They Call It Life Sentence?
In the News
David Thomas Boyd, 55, sexually assaulted 7 year old Nikki Allan in 1992 before stabbing her 7 times, smashing her skull and hiding her body in a derelict building.
After years of campaigning by the mom for justice a DNA hit caught the offender who has been given a 29 year life sentence. Sorry but why do we not put beasts like this in prison for a real Life Sentence? Where is the punishment? Where is the deterent?
On 23 May 2023, Boyd was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years before becoming eligible for release on parole. Boyd will become eligible to apply for parole on 16 August 2049.
I don't know why they even pretend to call it a life sentence - it isn't. That is disgusting enough, because it should be 'whole life', but when you think that he could be released to commit further crimes that is what is even more appalling. Justice should mean justice, but like everything else the justice system is completely broken. The perpetrators should pay the true price for their crimes and should get even longer if they get away with it for years and never see the light of day again.
tumblespots Wow that really gets to the point. I think it is good to give people a second chance but like you say the evil scum should be punished. We have gone too far from an eye for an eye and now its just a joke.
tumblespots some people I don't think should get life bring back the death penalty
Leannexxx I would have said that straight off but thought I would be in trouble with the LD bots. But it is true, why should we, the public, have to pay to keep them alive. It costs a fortune!
The only upside to this particular case is that he will be 84 by the end of his sentence so highly likely it will be a life sentence for him. If he does get to 84 life on the outside will be horrendous for him, he will be totally institutionalised and probably unable to function.
How can people be so cruel and heartless .. I know people don't like capital punishment but sometimes I wish we had as an option .. no justice at all
This man is pure evil full stop. He will be out in less than 15years when he shows remorse or whatever.
Sadly I think it's due to the cost of locking up prisoners. The system needs serious change, it's failing to protect the public.
I remember years ago at school a police officer came in for a Q&A and was asked why life doesn’t mean life. The way he explained it was that prisoners who will never get released are harder to control as you can’t add time to their sentence etc.
I guess the point of our justice system is to rehabilitate and handing out permanent terms would probably go against that but unfortunately there are people in this world who will never be rehabilitated
he has to serve a minimum of 29 years, then it doesn't mean he will be released, if he is even still alive by then.
as for the death penalty, i get it and i'm not against it, but what if the person turns out to be innocent. its happened a few times when they send down the wrong person. so all these people saying bring it back, would you push the button and kill someone not knowing if years later they were inocent and you killed the wrong person.
if life meant life, the prisons would end up like in america, prisoners would just run wild as they have nothing to lose.
People are married longer than that. I agree life should mean life, I also think for the extreme crimes the uk should have the death penalty
This country is totally unbelievable, the punishment system is none existent. These despicable types of living things (Won't call them human) and panded to and treated more like the victim than the offender !!. The government needs to get a back bone and give out punishment that fit's the crime. A eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth
It's a joke isn't it. It's life but we know it'll be 10 years and they will be out. Life in America is life
I don't imagine this fella will ever see parole if indeed he even sees daybreak!
We need a Pierrepoint back In the UK. This Country Is way too lenient with just about anything. In the US It Is a different kind of punishment. The trouble Is we will be funding his stay In Prison.
3 things I would say on the subject . 1st I totally think there would be people still walking round and be with us if the potential killer knew that there was a chance if caught they could face the death penalty .
2nd I do think if there is any precedent with putting a certain sentence to a certain crime. So if you are found with a knife you are facing *** amount of years in prison with no whatever u have been given u serve half of that sentence .
The 3rd part is when you hear the life and a minimum term of 30 years then your literally kicking the can down the road so that when the time comes and the person manages to get parole then its not the person who handed the minimum sentence to ensure parole was a chance you could get your freedom .Imagine in the 60s if the moors murderers got a minimum term . No Home office minister who would be known as the minister who let them out . If the death penalty wasn't an option you know you commit a murder you will never see the outside of a prison EVER and this conversation would not be brought round every year it releases another murderer back on our streets.
I sometimes prefer the American justice system because at least when they give a life sentence it is ACTUALLY life. I saw a video the other day and they guy was sentenced over 190 years for his crime.
Surely it would be better if sentences handed down by judges actually meant what they 'appeared' to mean. It is misleading the public. Just say what you mean.
So you take a life and tax payers hard earnings keep scum like this alive.
Harsh as it sounds an eye for an eye would make people think twice before carrying out such heinous crimes.
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