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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Review for knife murder sentences | Review for knife murder sentences |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Minimum sentences for knife murders are to be reviewed, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has told the House of Commons. | Minimum sentences for knife murders are to be reviewed, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has told the House of Commons. |
| The move follows controversy over the case of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella, whose parents called for stiffer jail terms for offenders who used knives. | The move follows controversy over the case of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella, whose parents called for stiffer jail terms for offenders who used knives. |
| The current knife murder tariff is 15 years. For gun murders it is 30 years. | The current knife murder tariff is 15 years. For gun murders it is 30 years. |
| Mr Straw said he would examine the minimum term "starting points" for people convicted of murders involving knives in England and Wales. | Mr Straw said he would examine the minimum term "starting points" for people convicted of murders involving knives in England and Wales. |
| But the Conservatives said the review was little more than a "public relations exercise". | |
| 'Appalling crime' | 'Appalling crime' |
| Ben, 16, died after he fled a fight in Islington, north London, in June 2008. | Ben, 16, died after he fled a fight in Islington, north London, in June 2008. |
| George and Deborah Kinsella discuss the sentences given to their son's killers | George and Deborah Kinsella discuss the sentences given to their son's killers |
| Michael Alleyne, 18, Juress Kika, 19, and Jade Braithwaite, 20, all from London, were all given life terms with a minimum 19-year tariff last week. | |
| But Ben's parents, George and Deborah Kinsella, said the government should review sentencing guidelines to enable judges to hand down stiffer sentences. | But Ben's parents, George and Deborah Kinsella, said the government should review sentencing guidelines to enable judges to hand down stiffer sentences. |
| The murder of Ben was an "appalling crime", Mr Straw said. | The murder of Ben was an "appalling crime", Mr Straw said. |
| He told MPs he recognised there had been "considerable concerns" about the gap in minimum terms. | He told MPs he recognised there had been "considerable concerns" about the gap in minimum terms. |
| He added: "In the light of these concerns I intend to review the provisions of schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 with a view to deciding whether to amend it as I can by order. | He added: "In the light of these concerns I intend to review the provisions of schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 with a view to deciding whether to amend it as I can by order. |
| The government cannot expect to be taken seriously when it is releasing thousands of violent offenders from prison early Dominic GrieveShadow Justice Secretary | |
| "I will of course be consulting the senior judiciary and the Sentencing Guidelines Council and would be very happy to receive wider representations." | "I will of course be consulting the senior judiciary and the Sentencing Guidelines Council and would be very happy to receive wider representations." |
| Mr Straw had been responding to a question from Labour backbencher David Winnick, who told the Commons that the jail terms handed down to Ben's killers were "not really sufficient". | Mr Straw had been responding to a question from Labour backbencher David Winnick, who told the Commons that the jail terms handed down to Ben's killers were "not really sufficient". |
| Dominic Grieve, the shadow justice secretary, said the Conservatives welcomed a review but said what Mr Straw had announced looked like a publicity stunt. | |
| "The government cannot expect to be taken seriously when it is releasing thousands of violent offenders from prison early, because of chronic overcrowding," Mr Grieve said. | |
| The Old Bailey heard that Ben, the brother of EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, was stabbed 11 times after Braithwaite claimed he had been "disrespected". | The Old Bailey heard that Ben, the brother of EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, was stabbed 11 times after Braithwaite claimed he had been "disrespected". |
| On 15 June, George Kinsella told BBC Breakfast: "If you murder someone with a gun, the starting tariff is 30 years. But if you do it with a knife, it's 15 years. | On 15 June, George Kinsella told BBC Breakfast: "If you murder someone with a gun, the starting tariff is 30 years. But if you do it with a knife, it's 15 years. |
| "What's the difference?" | "What's the difference?" |
| Mrs Kinsella told the programme that she believed knife crime sentencing was "too complacent". | Mrs Kinsella told the programme that she believed knife crime sentencing was "too complacent". |