Giga, Zulfikar

Zulfikar Giga was convicted in November 2005 of incitement to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and making threats to kill. Mr Giga received a sentence of six years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of Mr Giga’s sentence in November 2007.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that the sentencing judge had thought that he was sentencing Mr Giga under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, meaning Mr Giga would serve half his sentence before being entitled to automatic release.

In fact, due to the date of the offence, it was the 1991 Criminal Justice Act that applied, meaning Mr Giga had to serve two-thirds of his sentence before reaching automatic release.

The CCRC considered that the judge had intended Mr Giga would serve three years in prison.

The CCRC referred the sentence on this basis in February 2008.

The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence in March 2008.