One is a life sentence, and the other might as well be.

For some people, it might have been a life sentence.

He was given a life sentence, and died in June.

There are an average of 25 life sentences per year.

On 6 September 2005 he was given a life sentence.

Given a life sentence, he died in prison on 29 May 2011.

He had received two life sentences of at least ten years each.

The day came when the doctors called all the family in and gave her a life sentence.

A case stands in the court and he is given a life sentence.

Let's say the alternative was to give him a life sentence.