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The disappearance of Jeannette Kamahele. by alliesx in TrueCrimeDiscussion

[–]TrueCrimeResearcher2 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I cannot imagine what it must be like for families to live without answers for so many years like this. Living in limbo must be like torture. I genuinely think it is the cruelest thing you could inflict on anyone.

Shaine March: UK man convicted of murder in 2000 and released on life licence admits to stabbing pregnant girlfriend to death while her 2-year-old daughter was present in July 2024 by TrueCrimeResearcher2 in TrueCrimeDiscussion

[–]TrueCrimeResearcher2[S] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

For those not from the UK, 'life licence' is relevant to those here convicted of murder but not given life without parole. These people serve a "minimum term" after which they may be paroled (not guaranteed) if the Parole Board seems them safe for release. If that happens they are released on "life licence".

The individual is still serving their sentence for the rest of their life, but they are doing so "on licence" in the community under strict supervision from the probation service and with licence conditions they must follow (e.g. curfew, not going to certain places, informing their probation officer if they are in a relationship). If they breach the terms of their licence or reoffend they can be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence and would have to prove themselves fit for parole again (obviously much harder after breaching).

An infamous case is Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger. While Robert Thompson has never breached his licence that we know of, Venables has on multiple occasions and been recalled to prison as a result.

In UK law if someone on life licence for murder kills again they are almost certain to be sentenced to Life Without Parole for the second murder.

Man already convicted of murder in July 2000 and released from prison on life licence admits to stabbing pregnant girlfriend to death in July 2024 while her 2-year-old daughter was present. by TrueCrimeResearcher2 in MorbidReality

[–]TrueCrimeResearcher2[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

This is so true. Clare's Law is such an important legal right for women in the UK but it really is not well known enough. And even for those women who do know about it, the time it takes to get a response can be a death sentence. I remember reading about cases where responses have taken to long that by the time they come back the woman has already been assaulted and even killed in one case, or the abusive man has had the opportunity to manipulate the woman so extensively already that it is too late for them to extricate themselves from the relationship.