3Punishment for murder

3 Punishment for murder

(1) Notwithstanding any rule of law to the contrary, a person convicted of murder is liable to—

S. 3(1)(a) substituted by No. 49/1991 s. 119(1)
(Sch. 2 item 1(b)), amended by No. 48/1997
s. 60(1)(Sch. 1 item 1).

(a) level 1 imprisonment (life); or

S. 3(1)(b) amended by No. 49/1991 s. 119(1)
(Sch. 2 item 1(c)).

(b) imprisonment for such other term as is fixed by the court—

Note to s. 3(1) inserted by No. 65/2016 s. 20(1), repealed by No. 34/2017 s. 25(1).

S. 3(2) inserted by No. 52/2014 s. 12, substituted by No. 69/2014 s. 11, repealed by No. 34/2017 s. 13(1), new s. 3(2) inserted by No. 34/2017 s. 25(2).

(2) The standard sentence for murder is—

(a) 30 years if the court, in determining sentence, is satisfied that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that—

(i) the person murdered was a custodial officer on duty or an emergency worker on duty; and

(ii) at the time of carrying out the conduct the accused knew or was reckless as to whether that person was a custodial officer or an emergency worker; and

(b) in any other case, 25 years.

2 Murder is a category 1 offence under the Sentencing Act 1991. See section 5(2G) of that Act for the requirement to impose a custodial order for this offence.

S. 3(3) inserted by No. 69/2014 s. 11, repealed by No. 34/2017 s. 13(1), new s. 3(3) inserted by No. 34/2017 s. 25(2).

(3) In subsection (2)(a) custodial officer on duty, custodial officer, emergency worker on duty and emergency worker have the same meanings as in section 10AA of the Sentencing Act 1991.

Note to s. 3 inserted by No. 69/2014 s. 11, repealed by No. 34/2017 s. 13(2).

S. 3A
inserted by No. 9576 s. 3(1).