The Attorney General is today reviewing whether the jail terms handed out to Stephen Lawrence's killers are 'unduly lenient'.
The surprise move by Britain's top legal officer came after the trial judge suggested he would have doubled the minimum sentence of Gary Dobson and David Norris if the law had allowed.
Stephen's mother Doreen had yesterday described the 15- and 14-year sentences as 'quite low' but acknowledged: 'The judge's hands were tied.'
The judge was restricted by defunct legislation when he imposed the stiffest sentences allowable for offenders who were juveniles back in 1993.
Read more: Stephen Lawrence verdict: Attorney General to review 'unduly lenient' sentences | Mail Online
The surprise move by Britain's top legal officer came after the trial judge suggested he would have doubled the minimum sentence of Gary Dobson and David Norris if the law had allowed.
Stephen's mother Doreen had yesterday described the 15- and 14-year sentences as 'quite low' but acknowledged: 'The judge's hands were tied.'
The judge was restricted by defunct legislation when he imposed the stiffest sentences allowable for offenders who were juveniles back in 1993.
Read more: Stephen Lawrence verdict: Attorney General to review 'unduly lenient' sentences | Mail Online
Seven teenagers have been given custodial sentences totalling 74 years for the killing of a 16-year-old boy in south London.
Nicholas Pearton was stabbed to death in May last year after being chased down by a gang - many of them wearing their school uniforms.
The mob caught up with the teen as he ran out onto a road in Sydenham and stabbed him through the heart and lung in front of onlookers.
Nicholas managed to stagger into a nearby shop, but died soon after.
Judge Anthony Morris said the group had acted "like a pack of wild dogs chasing its prey".
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Dale Green and Lemar Gordon, both aged 17, and 16-year-old Joseph Appiah were found guilty of murder.
Green - who was identified as the stabber - was ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 15 years.
Gordon and Appiah were given minimum terms of 14 years and 12 years, respectively.
Four others were convicted of manslaughter - 18-year-old Terell Clement was jailed for 10 years; Claude Gaha, 17, and Demar Brown, 16, were given eight years; and Edward Conteh, also 17, was given seven years.
Nicholas Pearton was stabbed to death in May last year after being chased down by a gang - many of them wearing their school uniforms.
The mob caught up with the teen as he ran out onto a road in Sydenham and stabbed him through the heart and lung in front of onlookers.
Nicholas managed to stagger into a nearby shop, but died soon after.
Judge Anthony Morris said the group had acted "like a pack of wild dogs chasing its prey".
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Dale Green and Lemar Gordon, both aged 17, and 16-year-old Joseph Appiah were found guilty of murder.
Green - who was identified as the stabber - was ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 15 years.
Gordon and Appiah were given minimum terms of 14 years and 12 years, respectively.
Four others were convicted of manslaughter - 18-year-old Terell Clement was jailed for 10 years; Claude Gaha, 17, and Demar Brown, 16, were given eight years; and Edward Conteh, also 17, was given seven years.
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