The terms of s.2(2) Crime (Sentences) Act were mandatory and a judge could not avoid imposing a life sentence on the basis that he personally considered it unjust or because it would lead to a disparity of sentence compared to those of co-defendants. A joint enterprise was not excluded from the scope of s.2 of the 1997 Act, the factor to consider being the basis of the offender's participation.

CA (Crim Div) (Judge LJ, Sachs J, Klevan J)

08/03/1999