Baby P prison terms to be reviewed - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Baby P prison terms to be reviewed

The Attorney General is to consider appealing against the sentences handed down in the Baby Peter case.

Baroness Scotland could refer the case to the Court of Appeal if she concludes the sentences were "unduly lenient".

Children's charities have condemned the jail terms given to the three people convicted of causing or allowing the little boy's death.

Last week at the Old Bailey Baby P's mother, 27, was given an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years after pleading guilty to causing or allowing her son's death.

Her boyfriend, 32, was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years for raping a two-year-old girl. He was also given a 12-year term to run concurrently for his "major role" in Peter's death.

The couple's lodger, Jason Owen, 37, of Bromley, south east London, was jailed for a minimum of three years.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said she could appeal against the minimum terms handed down.

He said: "We have called for the papers in this case since the Attorney General has the power to refer certain sentences to the Court of Appeal for review if, after looking at all the facts, she thinks the sentence was unduly lenient.

"Within this power, the Attorney General can look at minimum tariffs imposed on life and indeterminate sentence prisoners.

"However, it is important to understand that such prisoners are not released automatically after the minimum term has been served - they are only released when the independent Parole Board is satisfied that their continued detention is no longer necessary to protect the public."

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