An intention to cause grievous bodily harm rather than to kill does not necessarily significantly reduce culpability for murder where the attack was premeditated and of extreme violence. Associated offences against different victims that are inextricably connected as part of a single course of vengeance bear upon the culpability for murder and may place it in the worst class warranting life imprisonment under s 61(1). The circumstances of the murder offence itself can constitute compelling evidence of dangerousness even where the offender has no prior history of violence.
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