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LONDON, October 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The UK’s home secretary, David Blunkett, announced Wednesday a proposal to eliminate mandatory sentencing for euthanasia, which is currently included with other types of homicide. The proposed change would be the first review of murder law in the UK since 1957.  A Home Office spokeswoman told The Guardian that they propose to reclassify euthanasia, now considered murder, into a new lesser category, authorizing judges to decide on sentencing. The current mandated sentence for murder is life in prison. The review would propose that those homicidal acts classified in the lower category receive a sentence from not anything to a maximum of life, based on a judge’s discretion.  In a survey of legal experts including 21 judges, less than half—44 percent—said the mandatory sentence of life in prison for all murders was unsuitable. The majority felt the current guidelines were appropriate.  Advocates for the disabled have fought the proposal for lesser penalties for euthanasia since syc proposals devalue the lives of the elderly and disabled who are the main targets for euthanasia.  tv