Fury as Pc killer has jail term cut

The judiciary has been accused of having "blood on their hands" over a decision to cut the minimum sentence to be served by a ruthless police killer.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, said a Court of Appeal judgment slashing the minimum jail term of Pc Ian Broadhurst's murderer was "unforgivable".

In an unprecedented letter to the most senior judge in England and Wales, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Mr McKeever said: "Granting an evil, calculated killer any kind of dispensation is criminal and leaves the judiciary with blood on its hands.

"The decision to surrender to the appeal of this cold-blooded murderer is nothing but unforgivable. I urge you to do whatever is needed to reverse this travesty of justice."

Mr McKeever attacked the three Court of Appeal judges who ditched the original "whole life" tariff imposed on David Bieber, which would have meant him dying behind bars.

The killer's lawyers had used the Human Rights Act to argue the sentence was a "cruel and unusual punishment", and judges substituted a minimum term of 37 years for the former US Marine, now aged 42.

Mr McKeever said: "To say that I and the 140,000 police officers I represent throughout England and Wales are appalled and disgusted with the decision that David Bieber will now not serve a whole life sentence is a gross understatement and my heart goes out to Pc Ian Broadhurst's family.

"This is shockingly disrespectful to his memory and illustrates the utter travesty of our criminal justice system, where the rights of a cop killer outweigh the rights of a fallen officer's family, friends and colleagues. David Bieber is a monster with no consideration for life.

"The fact that his appeal was initially lodged on the grounds that it contravened his human rights is ludicrous.He showed no mercy or concern for human rights when he ignored Pc Broadhurst's appeal, pleading for his life, before being executed at point blank range."

Bieber was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court in 2004 of the murder on Boxing Day 2003. Pc Broadhurst, 34, who was unarmed, was shot in Leeds during a routine check on a stolen vehicle.