WIREDGOV

The approach to sentencing in cases of attempted murder should be based on the degree of harm inflicted on the victim and the extent to which the attempt was planned, new advice from the Council says today.

Around 70 cases of attempted murder are sentenced each year and vary widely both in the degree of harm inflicted or foreseeable and in the way the attempt was carried out.

The most serious cases of attempted murder resulting in serious and long term harm will attract custodial sentences between 27 and 35 years for a first time offender.

For an offender found guilty of any other planned attempt to kill in which the victim suffers serious and long term harm, the sentencing range is between 17 and 25 years.

Where the attempt to kill was not planned, sentences will range from 6 to 20 years depending on the degree of physical or psychological harm caused.

The starting points and sentencing ranges reflect the minimum terms within a life sentence that would have applied had the offence been murder, as well as guidance issued by the Council in relation to other serious violent offences.

Where a court finds that there is a real risk that an offender convicted of attempted murder will cause significant harm in the future, a sentence of imprisonment for public protection under the dangerous offender provisions may be imposed.

Council Chairman and Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said: “The gravity of the offence of attempted murder must be reflected in a sentence which is linked to the minimum terms of imprisonment specified for murder.”

Notes to editors:

The definitive guideline is available on the SGC website (www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk).

Printed copies of the guideline may be obtained from: the Sentencing Guidelines Secretariat, 4th Floor, 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE (tel: 020 7084 8130).

Further information about the Council and Panel can be found at http://www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk/about/index.html.

For further information about this press release and the guideline, please contact the secretariat on 020 7084 8130 or 07515 359793.