The penalty for murder is mandatory life, however a sentencing court must fix a non-parole period pursuant to Section 53(A) of the Sentencing Act.

The standard non-parole period for murder is 20 years. However, if there are aggravating circumstances made out pursuant to Section 53(A)(iii) of the Sentencing Act such as the victim was a police officer or the killing was committed in the course of the commission of a sexual offence or there was more than one killing the minimum non-parole period is 25 years.