why do this?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_on_re_us/bar_hostages

why not just say life in person of kill the guy?

as far as i know no one has lived past 120 years.

can you explain this to me?

Answer 1

It's basically to drive home the point that he really screwed up. Also, multiple sentences that compound to astronomical sentences act to ensure that even if one or two of the sentences are overturned on appeal, he will still remain in jail based on the other sentences that were not overturned.

Also, the state law likely limits the length of each sentence to a certain amount of years, which rules out a life in prison sentence. So this compounding business is the closest alternative.

Answer 2

Welcome to the world of mandatory minimums.

You hear many people complain that judges sometimes don't sentence people to long enough in prison. So, many states have taken away that discretion from the judges and imposed statutory minimum sentences.

If someone commits ten crimes (carrying a gun ten times at ten different convenience story robberies), they could be sentenced to 100 years in prisons -- 10 years for each gun possession violation. That's because the statute requires that minimum amount of prison time for each violation.

That's what happened here. Mandatory minimums for different parts of the crime pushed the sentence to 240 years.

Answer 3

That is freaking awesome.

I am seriously thinking if my brother and I were in the bar the guy would probably have "hung himself" by the time the cops were there.

Answer 4

Yeah, these extensive sentences are really stupid. Why not just say "for the rest of your mortal life?"

Answer 5

To ensure he can't get out on bail or something.