Where offending is of extreme gravity (here, murder involving strangulation, rape of an unconscious dying victim, and post-mortem mutilation), the mitigating factors of youth, first offender status, early plea of guilty and rehabilitation prospects may carry but little weight. The principle of moderation of general deterrence requires a serious psychiatric illness falling short of legal insanity, or mental disorder or severe intellectual handicap; depression and low IQ (88) are insufficient.
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