A High Court judge in London has ruled that the Soham murderer, Ian Huntley, must serve a minimum prison sentence of 40 years before he can be considered for parole.
The 31-year-old former school caretaker received a mandatory life sentence for the murders in 2002 of ten year olds Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in the Cambridgeshire town of Soham.
The girls' parents - who attended the hearing - said they hoped Huntley would never be freed.
In a joint statement they said that although they might not be around in 40 years time, their other children would be and they would continue to feel the pain.
Holly's parents Kevin and Nicola were in court alongside Jessica's parents Leslie and Sharon Chapman and Mr and Mrs Chapman's daughters Rebecca, 19, and Alison, 17.
The ruling means that Huntley will not be considered for release from prison by the parole board until he is nearly 70. The judge, Mr Justice Moses, emphasised that the ruling did not necessarily mean Huntley would eventually be freed.
Ian Huntley's minimum sentence was not announced until today because his trial took place in a transitional period while the power to set tariffs was being transferred to judges.
He was convicted and sentenced to life on December 17, 2003, the day before the new Criminal Justice Act came into force in Britain.
Up to this time it was the British Home Secretary who had the final say in setting any tariffs but this power was transferred to the judiciary following a House of Lords ruling.
