Life imprisonment in Malta : is it in line with the ECHR?

Abstract

In 2013, the European Court on Human Rights with regards to life imprisonment delivered a landmark judgement, Vinter and others vs. The United Kingdom. It stated that life imprisonment without any possibility of release is in breach of article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Life imprisonment is the most severe punishment imposed by the Maltese courts after the abolition of the death penalty. There are currently thirteen prisoners who are serving a life sentence at the Corradino Correctional Facility. These prisoners' only way of leaving the institution is by death. Malta has been requested by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture to provide conditioned release for life prisoners. However, in Malta, discussions on life imprisonment are seldom. Through the analysis of Maltese verdicts of life imprisonment and the Maltese legislation, this dissertation will explore whether Malta's sentence of life imprisonment is in line with the Convention.