Whole life term and 45 years for Rigby muderers

[xChrisVx]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26357007

Today, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were jailed for life today after being convicted for the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in May 2013.

During the sentencing hearing, the defendants repeatedly interrupted the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, shouting: "Allahu Akbar!" "That is a lie!" and were removed forcibly from the court after a fight with nine dock officers.

Adebolajo will never be released after the judge declined to set a punishment part (or tariff) to his sentence. For him, life will mean life.

Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years, meaning that he has a slim chance of release, but he will be 67 before he is eligible for parole.

Counsel for both defendants argued that sentencing them to a whole life order would be 'inhuman' and would be a breach of their human rights.

My questions to you are:

1) Were these two men given the appropriate sentence is your opinion?
2) What are your opinions on the use of whole life orders?

[Harry Smith]

Good I think-they really didn't have any defense. They butchered a man in the streets with knives and then tried to behead him.

[ninja789]

Good I think-they really didn't have any defense. They butchered a man in the streets with knives and then tried to behead him.

im pretty sure one of them offered no defense

a couple of things really don't make sense about this story but from what I know I think they got the sentencing pretty much spot on

[xChrisVx]

im pretty sure one of them offered no defense

a couple of things really don't make sense about this story but from what I know I think they got the sentencing pretty much spot on

The defence which they pled was that the act of murdering the soldier was an act of war. They described themselves as 'soldiers of Allah' and therefore the act was not murder.

Sentence on the men was deferred for six weeks until a vital Court of Appeal ruling on whole life orders was delivered. After the decision was reached and found that whole life orders were not inhumane, the judge sentenced them.