Why is the punishment for attempted murder any different from the punishment for murder?
The maximum sentence is the same for both – life imprisonment – so the punishment *is* potentially the same for both. The principle factor which makes attempted murder different from murder is that the victim has not be killed, although this might be considered just “good luck” on the part of the defendant. The law sentences offenders based on a combination of factors – to deter others from committing the offence, to rehabilitate the offender to punish the offender for committing the crime, but also to punish the offender for harm done. It’s that last factor which makes attempted murder different from murder. Although they meant to kill, they failed. The harm has not been done.The harm actually done will be taken into account…
