General Chat

Whilst his widow and his mother take different routes to changing the law, two of his killers are to appeal their sentences.

Speechless.

P.C. Wombwell's wife didn't have much luck did she?

But it's always worth trying. In our area the wonderful Ann Ming campaigned tirelessly to reform the "double jeopardy" law so that she could get justice for her daughter who was killed by a local man.

It took her many years but she finally got the law changed and he was tried again and found guilty.

Kath. x

If a convicted person appeals against sentence they run the risk of the sentence being increased. The maximum sentence for manslaughter in England is life. Moroever release at some future date would be contingent on admitting guilt and credible remorse.

IMHO if the DPP cannot get a murder conviction in such a case then they need a new boss and some QCs worthy of the name.

Besides being unjust such a sentence puts everyboidy at risk, serious risk in some parts of the UK. Sentencing guidelines include deterrence as well as the case per se.

Why is the Crown not appealing?

Our crazy justice system!

Lizx

It is vital that justice is administered in some form, evenly and fairly for all.

Why would the Crown go to the expense of appealing when an appeal has been made by the accused?

The sentence will be re-examined anyway.

IMHO you can’t accidentally take a life in some circumstances and if you commit a crime and someone s killed as a consequence of a crime then it surely must be murder, after all if you weren’t there to commit a crime then no one would have died.
Just my opinion, don’t shoot me for having it.

I agree with you wholeheartedly ZZzzz.

Kath. x

case now referred to the court of appeal, maybe their sentence will be upped

Just what I was thinking, Maddie. When I heard they had appealed for shorter sentencing I thought it woud be the ideal time for the arbiter/judge to increase their sentences. It has been done once before that I can recall.,

Dermot - tut tut tut What on earth did you write? :-S

It looks like the Attorney General has reviewed the case and has referred it to the Court of Appeal as she considered the sentences to be "unduly lenient". The Judge had said that youth had been a mitigating factor and that was why he reduced their sentences. Hmmmm!