Rishi Sunak vows that ‘life will mean life’ in new crackdown on sexually motivated murders
RISHI Sunak yesterday vowed that “life will mean life” for sexually motivated murders.
Perv killers will be handed whole-life tariffs with no chance of being released.
The PM will change the law to ensure — for the first time — the sentence becomes mandatory for sex-linked murderers.
The full-life term will also be handed down to the most depraved killers — giving greater confidence that their sentences will not be challenged in the Court of Appeal.
The move comes after the murders of Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa, whose killers got life with a minimum of 38 and 36 years respectively — meaning they may one day be free.
Mr Sunak told The Sun on Sunday: “We have all been deeply shocked by some truly horrific crimes in recent years.
“They should never be walking on our streets, or part of our communities ever again.
“That is what Sun on Sunday readers rightly expect, and it is what we must do for public safety. These vile offenders must pay the price for their crimes.
“That is why we are bringing in mandatory whole-life orders as the minimum sentence for any sexually motivated murder.”
The sentence could have applied to Jordan McSweeney, who got at least 38 years’ jail for killing law graduate Zara Aleena in East London in June 2022.
Sources say it could also have applied to child rapist and killer Colin Pitchfork.
Seventy criminals are serving whole-life tariffs, including Milly Dowler’s killer Levi Bellfield.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said: “A whole-life order will now be the expectation for murderers where the killing involves sexual or sadistic conduct.”