a worse crime than death

A life sentence means life. Offenders serving life sentences remain under sentence until the day they die. Although "lifers" may not spend their entire lives in custody (i.e. they may eventually be paroled), they remain subject to control and supervision for the rest of their lives. A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic twenty-five year parole eligibility. For second-degree murder, the Court may set the eligibility anywhere between ten and twenty five years.