Notorious murderers Jeremy Bamber, Peter Moore and Douglas Vinter have won the right to have their case heard by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The men, all of whom are serving so called 'full-life tariffs' for their crimes, had appealed their sentences on the basis that they amount to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" and therefore are in breach of their human rights under Article 3 of the European Convention.
A panel of seven human rights judges ruled in January this year that there was no breach of Article 3 rights by the UK law on full-life tariffs. The judges in Strasbourg voted by four to three that the punishment was required and was implemented after detailed consideration.
Bamber, 51, was sentenced to five life sentences in October 1986 for the murder of his adopted parents, his sister and her twin sons who were just six years old at the time. He has always maintained his innocence but has since lost two appeals against his conviction and has had two further applications for a review turned down by the Criminal Cases Review Board.
Bamber has served more than 25 years in prison, but was told by the Home Secretary at the time in 1994 that he would never be released. His appeal is conjoined with those of Vinter and Moore, two other lifers who have been told they will never be released.
Vinter murdered a work colleague in 1995 and served nine years of a life sentence. Shortly after his release on a full-life licence he strangled and then stabbed his wife to death at his mother's home.
Moore stabbed four men to death in Wales in 1995. He met them at local bars and then lured them to secluded locations for his sexual gratification before killing them 'for fun'. He was sentenced to life in 1996 and was told by a High Court judge in 2008 that he would serve a full-life tariff.
The men's case will be heard in the Grand Chamber of the ECHR in November this year.
Bamber's solicitor, Simon McKay, told the Press Association that his client was pleased that the ECHR decision w ould be reviewed.
"It demonstrates that his case remains arguable and he looks forward to presenting his position at the Grand Chamber in due course," he said.
Source:
European Court of Human Rights to hear Jeremy Bamber appeal case (The Independent)
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