Thursday, May 28, 2009

Baby Peter sentences to be reviewed

Of course he was no longer a baby when he died, but at least we are allowed to give him a name now.

Anyway, the BBC reports that the sentences in the case are to be reviewed to see if they should be referred to the Court of Appeal:

Last week Baby Peter's mother, her boyfriend and their lodger were jailed for causing or allowing Peter's death.

Peter's mother must serve at least five years and the lodger at least three years. The boyfriend was given life for rape, with a 10-year minimum term.

He had been convicted of raping a two-year-old girl.

He was given an additional 12-year jail term, to run concurrently, for his "major role" in Peter's death.

There is always danger of injustice if the sentence in a case is determined by the amount of publicity it received. But it is hard to believe that justice has been done here when you compare these sentences with the 13 years given to Chris Lewis for smuggling cocaine.

1 comment:

Frank Little said...

The Chris Lewis sentence was not indeterminate.