|
|
Article: Police protest at plan to downgrade murder.
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- June 17, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: STEPHEN WRIGHT
CHIEF police officers have attacked government plans to end mandatory life sentences for murder.
They fear some of the country's most dangerous criminals would get softer sentences if ministers introduce a U.S.- style system where killings are graded according to their seriousness.
The proposed shake-up involves introducing three categories of homicide - first and second- degree murder and manslaughter.
To convict someone of firstdegree murder, prosecutors would have to prove the defendant had an 'intention to kill'.
Those prosecuted for seconddegree murder would merely have shown an 'intention to do ...