Killers' minimum terms cut by Privy Council

Two murderers have had the minimum term they must serve in prison before they can be considered for release reduced by the Privy Council.

Ze Selassie and Jermaine Pearman will now eligible for release three and six years earlier, respectively, after the ruling in London yesterday.

However, both murderers are still subject to life sentences.

Selassie will now serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars for the premeditated murder of Rhiana Moore on May 30, 2008. The term was originally set at 35 years when he was sentenced in September 2009.

The Court of Appeal reduced the minimum term to 28 years in 2011. Yesterday, the Privy Council in London further reduced his minimum term by three years.

Pearman was jailed in January 2011 after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Shakeya DeRoza.

He was initially ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars before he could be considered for release by the parole board. The Court of Appeal later reduced his minimum term to 21 years in November 2011.

Yesterday, the Privy Council further reduced his minimum term to 15 years.

The hearing was held in June and the judgments were handed down on Monday.

The judgement said: “Mr Selassie and Mr Pearman appeal to the Board against the directions of the Court of Appeal for their ineligibility for release until the expiry of 28 years and 21 years respectively.

“They contend that the directions were unlawful because they were contrary to section 286A  and to the proviso in section 288(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1907 (“the 1907 Act”) respectively.”

Murderers serving life sentences are eligible for parole after serving the duration of the minimum term.