Mr Justice Irwin told Mercer: “The proper punishment here will have the effect that you will not emerge from prison, even at the earliest, for a very long time.
“You are 18 now. Then you will be at least on the verge of being a middle-aged man.”
If Mercer is still considered a danger to the public after 22 years, he may never be released.
Four of his fellow gang members are due to be sentenced for their parts in the cover-up later this month.
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