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| European Court to rule on Jeremy Bamber life term | European Court to rule on Jeremy Bamber life term |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The European Court of Human Rights is due to rule on whether murderer Jeremy Bamber and two other killers should have their life sentences reviewed. | The European Court of Human Rights is due to rule on whether murderer Jeremy Bamber and two other killers should have their life sentences reviewed. |
| Bamber, along with serial killer Peter Moore and Douglas Vinter, argue that the whole life tariff is "inhuman". | Bamber, along with serial killer Peter Moore and Douglas Vinter, argue that the whole life tariff is "inhuman". |
| The court has previously ruled that such sentences do not violate a prisoner's human rights, but the matter was referred to its grand chamber for the final say. | The court has previously ruled that such sentences do not violate a prisoner's human rights, but the matter was referred to its grand chamber for the final say. |
| The ruling is expected at 09:30 BST. | The ruling is expected at 09:30 BST. |
| The three men are among a group of 49 people in England and Wales who are serving whole life tariffs. | The three men are among a group of 49 people in England and Wales who are serving whole life tariffs. |
| This means they cannot be released other than at the discretion of the justice secretary on compassionate grounds - for example, if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated. | This means they cannot be released other than at the discretion of the justice secretary on compassionate grounds - for example, if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated. |
| They claim that being denied any prospect of release amounts to "inhuman and degrading" treatment and this is a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. | They claim that being denied any prospect of release amounts to "inhuman and degrading" treatment and this is a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. |
| They say they should be entitled to have their tariffs reviewed. | They say they should be entitled to have their tariffs reviewed. |
| The case was referred to the grand chamber after the men narrowly lost their first European Court hearing in 2012: three of the seven judges ruled in their favour. | The case was referred to the grand chamber after the men narrowly lost their first European Court hearing in 2012: three of the seven judges ruled in their favour. |
| The court's first ruling concluded that the men's sentences were not "grossly disproportionate". | The court's first ruling concluded that the men's sentences were not "grossly disproportionate". |
| Bamber was jailed for murdering five members of his family in Essex in 1985. | Bamber was jailed for murdering five members of his family in Essex in 1985. |
| He has always protested his innocence and claims his schizophrenic sister Sheila Caffell shot her family before turning the gun on herself. | He has always protested his innocence and claims his schizophrenic sister Sheila Caffell shot her family before turning the gun on herself. |
| Moore killed four gay men for his sexual gratification in north Wales in 1995. | Moore killed four gay men for his sexual gratification in north Wales in 1995. |
| In 2008, Vinter, from Middlesbrough, admitted killing his wife Anne White. He had been released from prison in 2005 after serving nine years for murdering a colleague. | In 2008, Vinter, from Middlesbrough, admitted killing his wife Anne White. He had been released from prison in 2005 after serving nine years for murdering a colleague. |
| Vinter's solicitor, Simon Creighton, said the appeal was not a bid to get his client or the other two killers back on the streets. | |
| He said purpose of the legal challenge was to ensure all sentences have the right of review built into them. | |
| "A whole life sentence without the right of review is at odds with modern democracy and sentencing," he told BBC Radio 5 live. | "A whole life sentence without the right of review is at odds with modern democracy and sentencing," he told BBC Radio 5 live. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said up until 2003 all terms could be reviewed, including whole life tariffs. | |
| He said if the European judges decided in favour of the prisoners, it would be a "momentous decision" and would set up an "almighty battle" with Parliament. | |
| 'Pure revenge' | 'Pure revenge' |
| Last year, the Court of Appeal in London upheld the principle of whole life sentences for the most dangerous of offenders, saying it did not breach human rights. | Last year, the Court of Appeal in London upheld the principle of whole life sentences for the most dangerous of offenders, saying it did not breach human rights. |
| At the time, the Lord Chief Justice said jail without the possibility of release should be "reserved for the few exceptionally serious offences". | At the time, the Lord Chief Justice said jail without the possibility of release should be "reserved for the few exceptionally serious offences". |
| He said judges must be convinced those sentenced to whole life need to be held forever for punishment and retribution. | He said judges must be convinced those sentenced to whole life need to be held forever for punishment and retribution. |
| Eric Allison, a former prisoner and the Guardian's prison correspondent, told BBC Radio 5 live that the UK did not have the death penalty and the prison system was about rehabilitation and reform. | Eric Allison, a former prisoner and the Guardian's prison correspondent, told BBC Radio 5 live that the UK did not have the death penalty and the prison system was about rehabilitation and reform. |
| He said whole life tariffs were about "pure punishment and pure revenge and we are better than that". | He said whole life tariffs were about "pure punishment and pure revenge and we are better than that". |
| "We are human beings and we are capable of change. I spent time in prison. I did not kill anybody but I have seen people who did kill turn their lives around and that's the aim of the system. That should apply to all prisoners." | "We are human beings and we are capable of change. I spent time in prison. I did not kill anybody but I have seen people who did kill turn their lives around and that's the aim of the system. That should apply to all prisoners." |
| Rape victim Helen Stockford's attacker was a convicted murder and she has been campaigning to ensure he now stays in prison for life. She says some criminals do not deserve a second chance. | Rape victim Helen Stockford's attacker was a convicted murder and she has been campaigning to ensure he now stays in prison for life. She says some criminals do not deserve a second chance. |
| "They are given chances after chances and it seems they cannot live in society normally," she told BBC Radio 5 live. | "They are given chances after chances and it seems they cannot live in society normally," she told BBC Radio 5 live. |
| "I feel I am doing the life sentence, not him," she said. | "I feel I am doing the life sentence, not him," she said. |