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Murder - 41 year old female victim (girlfriend) - domestic argument - hit repeatedly over the head with a blunt object (edge of hatchet) - claimed he and the victim had been drinking - could not remember hitting her - at trial claimed he suffered from mental impairment - does not fit comfortably into normal or higher starting point category - lengthy criminal record for violent offences - tariff fixed 14 years.
[2004] NICC 10 Kerr LCJ
Murder - male victim (previously had affair with prisoner's wife) - shot dead - claimed shooting was an accident - normal starting point - jury rejected suggestion firearm was discharged other than deliberately - some provocation - lured victim to remote house - knew he could obtain access to firearm - some attack was intended - tariff fixed at 13 years.
[2004] NILST 5 Kerr LCJ
Murder - 33 year old male victim - assaulted after disagreement over £20 debt - denied being present - forensic evidence placed him at scene - higher starting point - culpability exceptionally high - prolonged, merciless assault - intention to kill - strong deterrent element - drinking, not drunk - 3rd person present had attempted to restrain - lengthy criminal record, conviction for violence - contested charge - no evidence of genuine remorse - made progress while in prison - tariff fixed at 16 years.
[2004] NILST 4 Kerr LCJ
Murder - husband victim - single stab wound to chest - intoxicated - initially alleged third party attack - then claimed self-defence - evidence prisoner had a violent temper - previously offered money to friend to murder her husband - normal starting point - a dispute between two people known to each other - still maintains that it was drunken accident - killing was a deliberate act - no pre-meditation - little evidence of genuine remorse - contested her guilt over two trials - tariff fixed at 12 years.
[2004] NICC 5 Kerr LCJ
Murders - two paramilitary gun murders - convicted on his own confession - higher starting point - planned and pre-meditated - illegal firearms - armed in advance - undoubted intention to kill - medical condition - full admission of guilt - youth of offender (21) - tariff fixed at 15 years.
[2004] NICC 4 Kerr LCJ
Murder - ex-girlfriend in England - she went to his flat - strangulation - took an overdose - eventually asked neighbours to call ambulance - trial judge imposed tariff of 12 years - reduced by Home Secretary to 10 - normal starting point - attempts to clear the crime scene; attempt at deception by preparation of suicide notes - suggestion of prior domestic violence, but no clear evidence - tariff fixed at 11 years.
[2004] NILST 13 Kerr LCJ