Actually Mr Justice Pontius passed an extended sentence of twenty seven years, the custodial term of which is twenty two years, with a licence extension of five years. He stated that the defendant must serve at least two thirds of the custodial term (14 years and 8 months) before being eleigible to apply for parole. In his sentencing remarks he said this:
"BRUSTHOM ZIAMANI, in all the circumstances I am entirely satisfied that
the gravity of this case demands an extended sentence with a custodial term of twenty two years, of which you are required to serve at least two thirds, that is fourteen years and eight months, before your case is considered by the Parole Board. It will be a matter for the Board alone, not for this court, to determine whether, at that stage, you still present a danger to the public or can safely be released. Following your release, whenever that takes place, you will remain subject to the terms of your licence not only for the balance then remaining of the custodial term but also for an additional period of five years.
That means that, if released at the two thirds point of the custodial term, you
will remain on licence for the following twelve years and four months.
I have no doubt that an extended licence period of that length is imperative,
for the reasons I have already set out."
As far as the "stop and search" issue goes, tellingly he said this:
"A realistic and sensible assessment of the whole of the relevant evidence that
the jury and I heard leads inescapably to the conclusion that this defendant,
had he not - by sheer good fortune - been spotted and stopped by the police
in a street in East London during the afternoon of Tuesday 19th August last
year, would have carried out the intention he had so graphically expressed to
his ex-girlfriend only a few hours before.
Personally, in light of the current circumstances, I would be perfectly happy to see stop and search used extensively. It seems it prevented at least one extremely serious atrocity from occurring and, in this instance, the ends justify the means.