SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 21Determination of minimum term in relation to mandatory life sentence

Starting points

4

1

If—

a

the court considers that the seriousness of the offence (or the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it) is exceptionally high, and

b

the offender was aged 21 or over when he committed the offence,

the appropriate starting point is a whole life order.

2

Cases that would normally fall within sub-paragraph (1)(a) include—

a

the murder of two or more persons, where each murder involves any of the following—

i

a substantial degree of premeditation or planning,

ii

the abduction of the victim, or

iii

sexual or sadistic conduct,

b

the murder of a child if involving the abduction of the child or sexual or sadistic motivation,

c

a murder done for the purpose of advancing a political, religious F1, racial or ideological cause, or

d

a murder by an offender previously convicted of murder.