Axel Rudakubana did not get a whole-life sentence because international law has prevented it, a Cabinet minister has suggested. Defence Secretary John Healey suggested a UN convention on children’s rights stops Britain from being able to impose unlimited sentences on under-18s.
Rudakubana could not be given a whole-life sentence because he was 17 at the time he murdered three girls at a dance class in Southport in July last year. Though he will likely die behind bars after being jailed for 52 years, critics have claimed the punishment is not severe enough.
Asked about calls to change the law so others like the Southport killer could be sent down for their whole lives, Mr Healey told Sky News: “There are limits on international, United Nations law that prevent us having a court system that will impose unlimited sentences on under-18-year-olds.
“But in practice, I can’t see this man ever coming out of prison, I don’t want to see this man ever coming out of prison, and the judge yesterday when he sentenced him to 52 years was also quite clear he doesn’t expect him to come out of prison in the future.”.
The UN Convention on the Rights of a Child says governments which have signed it should ensure that “neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age”.
