Anthony Anderson — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Successfully challenged the Home Secretary's powers to set minimum terms for life sentence prisoners
His case led to a landmark ruling by the Law Lords on November 25, 2002
The European Court of Human Rights agreed with the ruling on November 26, 2002
The decision made it incompatible with human rights for politicians in European countries to set minimum imprisonment lengths for life sentences
His successful challenge was a test case affecting approximately 225 convicted British murderers

Biography

Anthony Anderson is a British convicted murderer who gained notoriety for successfully challenging the Home Secretary's powers to set minimum terms for life sentence prisoners. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988 for two charges of murder. His first victim, Thomas Walker, 60, died in September 1986 after being punched and kicked by Anderson during a burglary. His second victim, Michael Tierney, 35, died in May 1987, also killed by Anderson during a burglary.