CONFIDENTIAL
5. IN CONSIDERING THE CASE OF A LIFE SENTENCE PRISONER, THE FACTORS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDE THE NATURE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT WAS COMMITTED: THE PRISONER'S HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE IN PRISON: MEDICAL INCLUDING PSYCHIATRIC CONSIDERATIONS: CONSIDERATIONS OF RETRIBUTION AND GENERAL
DETERRENCE: AND THE POSSIBLE RISK TO THE PUBLIC IF HE WERE RELEASED. 6. ASSUMING THAT
WERE FIRST DETAINED IN
FEBRUARY 1976, THEIR CASES WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE JOINT PAROLE BOARD/HOME OFFICE COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY 1979. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE FIRST FORMAL REVIEW OF THEIR CASES WOULD BE BEFORE FEBRUARY 1983 WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR 7 YEARS. 7. YOU MAY REST ASSURED THAT THE TRIAL JUDGE, IF STILL AVAILABLE, WOULD BE CONSULTED AND HIS VIEWS FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE CASES OF PUTTOCK AND BASSETT WERE FORMALLY REVIEWED.
OWEN
FILES HK & GD (5)
COPIES TO
MR LA SCUDDER HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
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