Debate over consecutive life sentences for murderers Millard and Smich far from over
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

In legal circles they’re called “stackable 25s� and later this month a Toronto judge will become the latest member of the bench to decide whether to mete out the harsher punishment to two high-profile killers.But the constitutionality of the Criminal Code section giving judges the discretion to order multiple murderers to serve consecutive periods of parole ineligibility for each crime will not be resolved anytime soon. Nor will the controversy.Supporters believe offenders guilty of multiple murders should have their parole eligibility delayed, even if it extinguishes any hope of release and they die in prison. Critics argue the sentencing provision is cruel and unusual punishment and violates charter rights.They say it is based on the misconception that multiple killers are automatically released after serving 25 years and that harsher penalties will make things better for victims.It is an emotional issue, no more so for the families and friends of victims.At the Feb. 12 sentencing hearing for Dellen Millard and Mark Smich, Crown attorney Jill Cameron told Superior Court Justice Michael Code the two remorseless killers should serve 50 years behind bars without hope of parole. That would mean the pair, now in their 30s, would be well into their 70s before they could even apply for release.“Where an offender is convicted of at least one planned and deliberate murder, and the murder of another person, there should be separate consequences,� Cameron said.Millard and Smich were convicted last year of the first-degree murder of Laura Babcock and are already serving life sentences for killing Tim Bosma. Code said he will rule Feb. 26.The Criminal Code section allowing for consecutive parole eligibility periods came into effect in 2011. Prior to that, a person convicted of first-degree murder was subject to a mandatory parole ineligibility period of 25 years.So far, Canadian judges have imposed consecutive periods of parole ineligibility i ...