Life means life ruling praised by former officer in Cannock Chase child killer case
A former police officer who worked on the case of Cannock Chase Murderer Raymond Morris today welcomed a court ruling that whole life prison sentences are legal.
Maureen Freeman, who played a key role in the investigation today said: "Life should mean life."
An Appeal Court ruling means 84-year-old Morris, originally from Walsall, will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
In July, the European Court of Human Rights ruled whole life sentences were unlawful because there was no prospect of review. But it sparked an angry backlash from many who feared some of the country's most notorious murderers – including Morris – could be released from their life terms.
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Yesterday, the Court of Appeal found whole life sentences should continue to be used for the most serious of crimes.
Miss Freeman said: "I am strong in the belief that life should mean life. Anyone who commits murder should get life. I remember being so angered when I heard the European courts had said whole life sentences were unlawful."
She added: " I am sure this ruling will bring some form of closure to the families."
Morris was found guilty of the rape and murder of Christine Darby in November 1968 and sentenced to life. In November 2010, the former engineer was granted a judicial review of the refusal of the Criminal Cases Review Commission not to refer his case to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn his conviction. But it was rejected and Morris abandoned any further appeal.
