Prisoners' Property

[Maydup]

I've just been watching the programme about the Prosecution Service which featured the case of a man who murdered his Mum. It got me wondering ....

He murders the old lady, who'dleft her house to him in her will. He gets a life sentence, what happens to the property now?

[MallyJ]

Probably goes to the next of kin according to the rules f inheritance..... I don't think you are allowed to profit from your crime.... having said that he will be out eventually.

[sandyRoe]

If he eventually got the house he'd be profiting from a crime. It should be disposed of as though the victim hadn't written a will with he son excluded

[Mamyalynne]

Some points may be covered here...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slayer_rule

[Mamyalynne]

Sorry not sure that is UK.

[hc4361]

He won't get it.

"The judge pointed to the ancient rule of law that killers automatically forfeit any right to financially benefit from the death of their victims."
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/son-who-killed-mother-fails-10561531

[Maydup]

Lets assume there is no other family, just the two of them.

He's an only child and she is the last of her generation.

Do the authorities do something with the house or does it stand empty until he eventually comes out of jail?

[Maydup]

Sorry crossed posts mamya and hc, i'll look at your links

[hc4361]

The infamous Jeremy Bamber tried to claim his inheritance more than once, and failed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bamber

[Jonathan-Joe]

Current UK position here http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=0e8ad3b5-f531-4b9c-8b28-23d3a54b4ce2

[Maydup]

Thanks JJ, very clear, the prisoner is considered as having died before the mother and therefore out of the equation.

[Old_Geezer]

That seems fair enough. I think one can reasonably assume that the murdered individual would have had second thoughts about leaving their murderer anything were they in a position to change the will afterwards.

Maybe they should get the ouija board out to check.

[CrapAtCryptics]

On the subject of Jeremy Bamber he made great claims to being intelligent but, by any definition, was a total ass making regular appeals just to pander to his own sad little ego.

[Peter Pedant]

Great Jay Jay

Many thanks - and clear site

I had got up to the bit that the convict is treated as having predeceased the testator but couldnt work out if the heirs could be at will ( so that the murderer could indirectly inherit or whether it had to be under the laws of intestacy - oops when the children could ... )

good work - I had only got American sites