Coventry North East MP, Bob Ainsworth has insisted that Life will mean life for the most heinous murderers as new principles for the sentencing of murderers comes into force.

Bob Ainsworth has welcomed the tougher sentencing framework, which he supported in Parliament as part of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.  The new guidelines determine how long a murderer should spend in prison before being considered for release on life license.

Labour MP Bob Ainsworth said: “Murder is the most serious, abhorrent and despicable crime imaginable.  The vast majority of people want to see the punishment fit the crime and I believe the new sentencing guidelines that are coming into force will help maintain the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system.

“When the death penalty was abolished it was understood that those convicted of murder would be punished with the utmost gravity.  So it is right that for the most serious murders life really will mean life.  The most dangerous and evil people will stay in prison forever”.

Whole life will be the starting point for murderers aged 21 or over in respect of: multiple murders (two or more) that show a substantial degree of premeditation, involve abduction of the victim prior to the killing or are sexual or sadistic: murder of a child following abduction or involving sexual or sadistic conduct; terrorist murder; and murder where the offender has been previously convicted of murder.