The Law Officers have received a request to consider the sentence of Axel Rudakubana under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Axel Rudakubana was sentenced today to custody for life with a minimum term of 52 years less time on remand after he was convicted of 16 offences including the murder of three young girls, the attempted murder of 10 other people including 8 children, as well as the production of ricin and possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual.
His sentence has been referred to the Law Officers under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Only one request is needed for a sentence to be considered.
The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and decide whether to refer it to the Court of Appeal.
There is a high threshold for a successful ULS reference. The sentence must be not just lenient but unduly so, for example if the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence.
If the Law Officers refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal, the Court may decide that the sentence should stay the same, is unreasonably low (called 'unduly lenient') and may increase it, or refuse to review the case.
For background
The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they're asked to.
Only certain types of case can be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme such as murder, manslaughter, rape, and robbery.
