Killers' jail terms increased

The prisoners appeared at the High Court in Glasgow

Three murderers have had their jail sentences increased as a result of human rights legislation.

All three appeared in court under a new law which states that they have the right to know how long they must serve before they can apply for parole.

The Human Rights Act means judges have to set a minimum punishment period which has to be served before prisoners can apply to the parole board.

However, 30-year-old Darren Jenkinson, who was originally ordered to serve at least 15 years for smothering his two baby sons, had his sentence doubled to 30 years.

Darren Jenkinson murdered his children

At the High Court in Glasgow, the judge, Lord McEwan, added 10 years to the 20-year sentence originally given to Peter McMurray, a worker at a sewage plant at Bothwell, who killed three colleagues with a shotgun.

The judge also ordered that Andrew Cameron, who murdered two women in Ayrshire, must serve at least 30 years, rather than the 20 years he was originally given.

Each of the men could end up serving more than these minimum periods, if the parole board decides they are still dangerous, when they eventually are allowed to apply for release.

Jenkinson, from Glasgow, was found guilty in September last year of murdering his sons, Aaron, seven weeks, and Jacob, three weeks, by smothering them with their bibs in 1995 and 1999.

Lord McEwan said Jenkinson, who did not appear in court, had committed a callous act and was ordered to serve 30 years before being entitled to apply for parole.

McMurray, from Hamilton, was found guilty in 1985 at the High Court in Airdrie and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years.

'Worst possible cases'

He walked into the sewage works at Bothwell after a long standing dispute with one of his colleagues, Alex Sexton, and shot him twice as he sat in the works canteen having a cup of tea.

McMurray then shot William Burns and William McIntosh.

Lord McEwan described the crime as one of the "worst possible cases" and said he would be failing in his duty if he did not set the highest possible tariff for the crimes.

Cameron murdered Kay Wyllie, 20, from Ayr, in July, 1984.

The judge considered the punishment period

He strangled his victim after she left her boyfriend's house and dumped her body in a ditch.

In May 1985, Cameron murdered Nancy Nicol, from Kilmarnock, who was also strangled and then thrown into the sea at Troon.

Lord McEwan said Cameron's punishment period should be at the higher end of the tariff.

The review of the killers' cases became necessary after the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law.

The legislation outlawed the practice whereby government ministers decided when convicted murderers could be released.

All cases are now reviewed by a judge, who sets a "punishment period" which must be served before a lifer can be considered for release.

Judges take into account the recommendations of the parole board before deciding whether to alter the terms of the sentence.