In Serbia, lawmakers today amended the penal code to introduce a life sentence without parole, despite concerns voiced by the Council of Europe. Until now, the maximum sentence in Serbia, which seeks to join the European Union, was 40 years in prison.<br />'' <br />'' According to the new law, those sentenced to life imprisonment will be able to ask a tribunal to review their sentence once they have spent 27 years behind bars. But those convicted of rape followed by murder, or serious crimes against children or pregnant women, will not have that option. <br />'' <br />'' The introduction of life sentence was triggered by the 2014 rape and murder of a 15-year-old Serbian girl. <br />