King v Sharyar Ali
This judgment serves as a guideline for appropriate sentencing in cases involving the murder of a young child.
[2023] NICA 20 Keegan LCJSearch decision and choose filters to show only the results you want
This judgment serves as a guideline for appropriate sentencing in cases involving the murder of a young child.
[2023] NICA 20 Keegan LCJ
This judgment serves as a guide for sentencing in murder cases which involve domestic violence and are characterised by a prior, prolonged history of domestic violence.
[2023] NICA 3 Keegan LCJ
Appeal against sentence – convicted of murder of a senior prison officer and causing an explosion with intent to endanger life – joint enterprise – mandatory life sentence with 22 year minimum term prior to release at first instance – appeal against minimum tariff of 22 years – application to extend time – whether trial judge was wrong to conclude that there was nothing by way of personal mitigation giving rise to a reduction in sentence - R v McCandless [2004] NICA 1 confirmed as leading authority on sentencing in murder cases – high culpability – high harm – case fell within the very serious category – planned – politically motivated – use of explosive device a highly aggravating factor – terrorist crimes involving serving police or prison officers can expect sentences of upwards of 20 years – personal mitigation is likely to be of limited if any value – no merit in appeal - application to extend time refused - appeal dismissed
[2022] NICA 30 Keegan LCJ
Sentencing for multiple terrorist offences, including murder and attempted murder – guilty pleas – offender assisting police pursuant to ss. 73-75 SOCPA 2005 – whether discount appropriate – guidance given on the approach to be taken to ‘the SOCPA discount’.
[2020] NICA 22 Morgan LCJ
Murder x 2 – whether reduction in tariffs for guilty plea appropriate –guidance given on range of appropriate discount and approach to be taken by sentencers.
[2017] NICA 52 Morgan LCJ
Application to extend time for leave to appeal sentence – murder – 20 year tariff – Plus: 1. attempted murder; 2. possession of shotgun; and, 3. handgun both with intent to endanger life – discretionary life sentences with concurrent tariffs of 20 years’ imprisonment for each offence. Planned professional killing – McCandless reaffirmed – extension of time refused on murder count and tariff on mandatory life sentence left undisturbed – tariffs of 10, 8 & 8 years’ imprisonment respectively substituted in the remaining offences extension of time and leave having been granted on those counts.
[2017] NICA 4 Morgan LCJ
Reference under s. 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 – terrorist murder of police officer life imprisonment for adult offender – application of minimum tariff – 25 years not unduly lenient – detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure for youth offender – minimum term of 14 years unduly lenient – limited mitigation for youth in serious violent offence of this nature – tariff of 18 years substituted.
[2014] NICA 69 Morgan LCJ
Further guidance on the steps to take in assessing the appropriate minimum term in mandatory life sentences.
[2011] NICA 24 Hart J
Credit to be given for period of foreign detention relating to subject crime.
[2010] NICA 12 Morgan LCJ
Murder - 13 year old female victim - extensive injuries - concealed body - body found 5 years later - no acknowledgment of guilt - no account of what he did - higher starting point - tariff fixed at 21 years.
[2008] NILST 13 Kerr LCJ
Murder - multiple stabbing - 19 year old male victim - denied involvement under interview - admitted stabbing but not murder at trial - defence of diminished responsibility not accepted by jury - armed himself with knife - higher starting point - self-restraint may have been lowered by consumption of drugs and alcohol - tariff fixed at 16 years.
[2008] NILST 9 Kerr LCJ
Murder - robbery - extensive injuries - 46 year old male victim - very serious case - use of weapon - attempt to hide body - scant evidence of remorse - denied involvement under interview - bragged to friends - tariff fixed at 17 years.
[2008] NILST 8 Kerr LCJ
Conditions justifying imposition of whole life tariff
[2008] NICA 27 Kerr LCJ
Murder - 17 year old male victim - terrorist crime - victim targeted because of religion - foreknowledge of intention to kill - use of a knife - previous record - very serious case - scant evidence of genuine remorse - asserted innocence throughout trial - tariff fixed at 20 years.
[2008] NILST 12 Kerr LCJ
Murder - 78 year old male victim - extensive and multiple injuries - burglary - higher starting point - left victim to die - denied guilt - tariff fixed at 17 years.
[2008] NILST 7 Kerr LCJ
Murder - 54 year old male victim - beaten to death - shocking, extensive and multiple injuries were inflicted - higher starting point - attempted to avoid responsibility - victim's family deprived of any insight - no genuine remorse - tariff fixed at 17 years.
[2008] NILST 6 Kerr LCJ
Two Murders - confessions to police - refusal to answer questions in main trial as to truth of statements - politically motivated terrorist crimes - planned - use of firearms - vulnerable and defenceless victims - appeal on the basis of inadmissibility of confessions dismissed - higher starting point - very serious case - assessment by Sentence Review Commissioners - tariff fixed at 22 years.
[2008] NILST 14 Kerr LCJ
Terrorist murder - male victim - higher starting point - identified victim as a target - planned and organised the murder - no true remorse for crime - tariff fixed at 20 years.
[2008] NILST 11 Kerr LCJ
Multiple counts of terrorist murder - firearms used - politically motivated - targeted because of religion - meticulously planned - ruthlessly executed assassinations - professional killings - higher starting point - plea of guilty - no compelling evidence of remorse - tariff fixed at 30 years.
[2008] NILST 5 Kerr LCJ
Murder - 39 year old male victim - course of a burglary - sustained and vicious attack - higher starting point - attack planned - relevant criminal record - expressed remorse, though not at trial - tariff fixed at 19 years.
[2008] NILST 10 Kerr LCJ