My life sentence

WHAT does it take to get locked up (Mail)? My daughter was murdered in 1988 and at the trial her murderer was found guilty and sentenced to, as I was reliably informed at the time, a ‘life means life’ sentence.

However, I was later told that prisoners must have hope that they will be released.

I asked: ‘ Where is my family’s hope?’ I didn’t receive a reply.

MICHAEL BENSON, London SE25. SHORT sentences for serious crimes are not a new development. In the Eighties, my mother died as a result of a mugging in South London.

I was shocked that at the trial at the Old Bailey, the defence barrister claimed she had fallen on her own head, thus sustaining brain damage. In fact, when the mugger attempted to snatch her bag, she tried to hang on to it, which is a natural impulse, and fell backwards.

She would not have fallen if the mugging had not taken place. The young defendant was sentenced to four years and was out in 18 months. Is that a fair or just sentence?

Name and address supplied.