Canada supreme court rules life without chance of parole is ‘cruel’ and illegal

Decision setting parole eligibility at 25 years could give hope to at least 18 mass killers serving multiple life sentences

Canada's supreme court has ruled that life sentences without the chance of parole are both cruel" and unconstitutional, in a landmark decision that could give more than dozen mass killers who committed inherently despicable acts" the faint hope of release in the future.

The court unanimously determined on Friday that sentencing killers to lengthy prison terms with little hope of freedom risked bringing the administration of justice into disrepute".