Gunman jail term storm
The gunman who tried to murder a Wolverhampton Pc could have his "unduly lenient" 15-year minimum jail term increased, it was revealed today.
Marcus Bailey, aged 25, was jailed for life after being found guilty of trying to shoot dead Geoff King near the Waitrose supermarket.
But the thug, who has a history of violently resisting arrest, greeted the sentence by shrugging his shoulders and thanking the judge as he was led away.
Today it was revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service will appeal against the 15-year minimum tariff given with Bailey's life sentence. The CPS decision came as anger grew over the "perverse" sentence given by judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams.
CPS spokesman Vinny Bolina said an appeal was being considered, but the final decision on whether to hand the case to the Court of Appeal would be made by the Attorney General.
He added: "This will be the first stage in the process of deciding whether the sentence handed out was unduly lenient."
PC Paul Tonks of the Police Federation today said: "It doesn't make sense, it's perverse. For a man as dangerous as that life should mean life. I applaud and support the Crown Prosecution Service – the sentence that the judge gave just gives a totally mixed message."
Pc King, aged 33, chased Bailey after he failed to stop during a car crime crackdown in the Penn Fields area last November.
Bailey, of Warnford Walk, Merry Hill, waited for the officer near the Waitrose supermarket off the A449 Penn Road before pointing the gun at his head and shooting him three times from a distance of less than two metres.
Don't miss Wednesday's Express & Star for more in-depth reports.