Gill Smith , whose 18-year-old daughter Louise was murdered in December 1995 , praised Mr Blunkett for giving judges the power to set longer minimum terms . Her daughter 's killer , David Frost , was convicted of murder and sentenced to life but with a minimum of 14 years , as he had confessed to the crime as well as expressing remorse in court . Mrs Smith felt that 14 years was a very short time , especially when one of the men who tried to steal a diamond from the Millennium Dome was sentenced to 18 years . She criticised the judiciary for implying that a diamond was worth more than her daughter 's life . ( However , a person sentenced to 18 years is eligible for parole after 9 years . ) Denise Bulger , whose two-year-old son James was murdered by two 10-year-old boys in February 1993 , criticised the legislation for insufficient severity . She protested that whole life sentences should apply to children who kill as well
steal a diamond from the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome raid
Criminal Justice Act 2003