Hmm. Confused.

[royalmarriage]

Okay, it's different strokes for different folks, and we can't necessarily expect the system in Norway to work the same as the one in the USA, but...

In 1980, Mark Chapman murdered John Lennon and was given 20 years to life in prison. Yesterday - 32 years later - he was refused parole for the seventh time, on the grounds that his "release at this time would greatly undermine respect for the law."

Last year Anders Breivik murdered 77 people and wounded 240 others, and has been given 21 years for that.

Am I alone in thinking that seems a bit of an under-reaction by comparison?

Comments

[welshgirl15.livejournal.com]

I don't even understand how any system could result in only 21 years after killing 77 people, it's completely ridiculous

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, under the Norwegian system they are able to decide, at the end of the 21 years, whether he is still a threat, and can choose to continue his imprisonment.

The relatives of victims, and others who were there at the time, seem pleased to see that the Norwegians have not abandoned their principles and gone for an American style sentence which they would have seen as savage and uncivilised, I think.

[welshgirl15.livejournal.com]

Ah I see. I suppose it makes sense in a way that they can extend the sentence. As far as I know (with extremely limited knowledge of sentencing regulations) that wouldn't happen here unless they did something to warrant it while in prison. Hopefully in 21 years it will be continued.

At the end of the day, if the families of the victims and those injured are pleased with the sentencing then nobody else can argue it.

[tree_and_leaf]

I have mixed feelings about this. I do think that 21 years is an exceedingly short sentence given his crimes, but I wouldn't hold the USA's model of sentencing up for the emulation of any Western country. While I don't know the details of Chapman's case and so am not going to try to decide whether the parole board was right or wrong - they may well be - , I don't think that there is necessarily anything wrong with paroling a murderer after they've served as long as that.

[jaded-jamie.livejournal.com]

I am completely with you, that nut pot should never be allowed out.

[lonemagpie.livejournal.com]

21 years is actually the maximum allowed by Norwegian law.

If I was in charge, I'd have him tried for all 77 murders as separate charges, 21 years for each, sentences to be served consecutively...

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Nope...I feel the same way you do. After killing 77 people in cold blood like that, he should rot in prison for the rest of his life. Then again, I'm a product of the USA, so...