Spain: cabinet OKs life-sentence bill for aggravated murder

The Spanish cabinet on Thursday approved a bill introducing life sentences for terrorism, regicide, genocide, and aggravated murder, and tougher mandatory sentencing for gender-based crimes, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said at a press conference. ''The objective is to curb new forms of criminal conduct and to give a more vigorous penal response to certain crimes,'' Santamaria told reporters after the cabinet meeting. Murders of victims who are under 16 and/or disabled, and cases of rape and murder, fall under aggravated murder and will now be punishable with life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25-35 years. Judges will also have the option of having paroled murder convicts remanded in custody for security reasons. The reform also makes sexual harassment punishable with two years in prison, and forced marriage with three years in prison. Unauthorized publication of intimate images, even if they were obtained with the subject's consent, will now carry a one-year sentence. The bill is based on a September 14 report by Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon.