State court overturns 110 year sentence for teen gunman

SAN FRANCISCO —

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a sentence of 110 years to life in prison for a man who committed three attempted murders at age 16 is unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

The court said a sentence that exceeds a juvenile’s expected life span is equivalent to life in prison without possibility of parole and violates a 2010 Supreme Court decision.

In the 2010 ruling, the federal high court said it is unconstitutional for juveniles who commit crimes that are not murders to be sentenced to life without parole. The U.S. court said such youths must be given a realistic opportunity to seek parole.

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