THE LIFE-SENTENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2114, 24 June 1907, Page 1

THE LIFE-SENTENCE

There has lately been considerable interest evinced us to what distinction, if any, exists between “imprisonment lor life” and “Imprisonment for fliV'Tejun of natural Ijic,.”: Three jonespomluiits liuvo written to the I livening Pust.onl the point, and . (in-.. iniries made with the intention of nn- ! swering their queries have elicited .lie fact that in the Criminal Code | • this country there is no Specific sen- ■ :eneo “for the term of his natural l iife.” The passing of a life sentence means -(ill strict interpretation) that life prisoner will be such until doath, though a nractico seems to obtain miidor which such prisoners gain lib‘orty "at the end of twenty years, or earlier if .they have been of uniformly good conduct. On the point' as to lifo sentences the gaol regulations (No 116) say: “No rule lor the remission of* life sentences will bo laid ■ down. Such sentences are passed on persons guilty of the gravest offences, and the (Jovernor will only extend the Royal prerogative of mercy to such persons older exceptional circumstances,”There lias been at least one occasion upon which a New Zealand judge (Hr Tustice Edwards) has sentenced a prisoner (ono Douglas) to “imprisonment for the term of his natural life,-’ and 1 there are other instances of New Zealand prisoners being sentenced to “imprisonment for life.” Whether tiis Honor in passing the sentence on Douglas had aiiy intention of-distin-guishing botweon the fifteen to twenty years’ period, and a sentence uni! actual death, it would be interesting to know. Possibly _tlie use by a bulge of the words “natural life” is meant to intimate to the Executive lie judge’s opinion that clemency to lie prisoner would be misplaced, and L hat he should he kept in prison until death.'