The two 16-year-old convicted killers of a transgender teenager in northwest England nearly a year ago have been given minimum sentences of 20 and 22 years.
Justice Amanda Yip lifted the reporting restrictions on naming the killers of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. They were identified at Manchester Crown Court as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.
The horrific murder shocked the nation. Ghey was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back in broad daylight after being lured to a park in the town of Warrington on Feb. 11, 2023.
Yip handed Ratcliffe and Jenkinson a mandatory life sentence, and ordered them to serve a minimum term of 20 and 22 years, respectively, before they could be eligible for parole. If they had been adults — over the age of 18 — they would have faced much longer minimum terms. They will be transferred to adult prisons when they turn 18. Neither showed no visible reaction on being sentenced.
Good to see that they got a life sentence and not the usual "they're minors so they'll do some years in a community" bullshit that happens in my country
They only get out on parole if the board (or whatever the UK's equivalent is) believes they have learned a lesson and are safe to reenter society. If not then they stay until the next board meeting. I have a hard time imagining they would get out after 20 years for murder without the board being pretty damn sure they are no longer a danger to society.
As gross and heinous as these crimes are, I will never favor life-without-parole or the death penalty for minors.
if rehabilitation is possible, there is no real benefit to society to just keep folks in prison indefinitely, and in fact refusing to accept change for the better disincentivises folks from doing so
The 20 years is the minimum time they'll do in prison.
After the 20 years they'll be eligible for parole. If, and only if, the board decides that it's safe for them to be released will they do so.
If they are released they will be in license. This means they are subject to prison recall without trial should they pose any risk to the public. The license may also impose additional restrictions such as regular therapy appointments, restrictions on leaving the country etc. These conditions will be imposed for life. Breaking any of these restrictions would also result in a recall to prison.
If the parole board decides that it's not safe to release them, then they'll remain in prison. They may very well remain in prison for their entire life.
That's standard in the UK. Our justice system views rehabilitation as the ultimate goal, not punishment. They will serve this as a minimum, but will likely never see life outside of a cell based on their reaction to being sentenced.
Even after parole, their life will forever be scrutinised by law enforcement and medical examiners to determine their mental state. Anything that doesn't scream "normal member of society" puts them back in jail.