Northern Irish Court of Appeal dismisses appeal from minimum tariff of 14 years imposed for murder conviction.
Criminal law - murder - sentencing - appeal from imposition of tariff of 14 years - Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 - trial defended on grounds of self-defense - accused attacked by deceased with crutch - death caused by heavy blows to chest - multiple injuries - minimum terms in murder cases - normal starting pint of 12 years - variation of starting point - considerations - aggravating factors - previous convictions for violent crime - intention to injure rather than to kill - vulnerability of deceased - personal background of offender.