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Huntley 'should die behind bars' Huntley 'should die behind bars'
(about 1 hour later)
Soham murderer Ian Huntley should die in jail because the "public would expect that", the Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has suggested.Soham murderer Ian Huntley should die in jail because the "public would expect that", the Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has suggested.
In a Sunday Telegraph interview, he said Huntley was among a category of killers who should never be freed.In a Sunday Telegraph interview, he said Huntley was among a category of killers who should never be freed.
Society requires "retribution" in such cases and needs to have confidence in the criminal justice system, he added.Society requires "retribution" in such cases and needs to have confidence in the criminal justice system, he added.
Huntley, 33, got a 40-year minimum sentence in 2003 for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.Huntley, 33, got a 40-year minimum sentence in 2003 for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
The Lord Chancellor's remarks follow a row prompted by the Lord Chief Justice's support for an end to mandatory life terms for murderers.The Lord Chancellor's remarks follow a row prompted by the Lord Chief Justice's support for an end to mandatory life terms for murderers.
"There will be some people who I think should stay in prison for the rest of their natural life," Lord Falconer told the paper."There will be some people who I think should stay in prison for the rest of their natural life," Lord Falconer told the paper.
"They should still stay in because the heinousness of their crime means that the public would expect that."They should still stay in because the heinousness of their crime means that the public would expect that.
"(Lord Phillips) referred to geriatric lifers - well, there will be some and I think if you want confidence in the system that's got to be the position.""(Lord Phillips) referred to geriatric lifers - well, there will be some and I think if you want confidence in the system that's got to be the position."
Lord Falconer also said low-level offenders could serve shorter termsLord Falconer also said low-level offenders could serve shorter terms
Lord Falconer also cited the case of another child killer, Robert Black, who was jailed for a minimum of 35 years in 1994 and that of Moors murderer Ian Brady, serving a "whole life" tariff.Lord Falconer also cited the case of another child killer, Robert Black, who was jailed for a minimum of 35 years in 1994 and that of Moors murderer Ian Brady, serving a "whole life" tariff.
He said they were "three obvious examples" of people who should never be released.He said they were "three obvious examples" of people who should never be released.
"It is both because of dangerousness but it also because society does require retribution in those sorts of cases and if it doesn't get it then people will not be confident of the criminal justice system." "It is both because of dangerousness but it is also because society does require retribution in those sorts of cases and if it doesn't get it then people will not be confident of the criminal justice system."
Lord Falconer said low-level offenders with alcohol and drugs problems could serve reduced jail terms if they were better treated and properly monitored in the community.Lord Falconer said low-level offenders with alcohol and drugs problems could serve reduced jail terms if they were better treated and properly monitored in the community.
"The right course is to take every step necessary to make sure they don't reoffend which may involve shorter sentences," he said."The right course is to take every step necessary to make sure they don't reoffend which may involve shorter sentences," he said.
In a speech at the University of Birmingham earlier this month, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips said prisons risked becoming "full of geriatric lifers" in future.In a speech at the University of Birmingham earlier this month, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips said prisons risked becoming "full of geriatric lifers" in future.
He said government guidelines were "ratcheting up" the length of time some murderers would spend in prison.He said government guidelines were "ratcheting up" the length of time some murderers would spend in prison.
But the most senior judge in England and Wales did not mention any individual cases by name in the speech.But the most senior judge in England and Wales did not mention any individual cases by name in the speech.