In the case you mentioned, the issue is that the criminal was obviously an extreme sadist. Such people (rapists, child molesters, and so forth) have to be locked in supermaximum prisons for life with no chance of parole, since they by nature re-offend. Personally, I support mandatory sentencing for only two kinds of criminals: Murderers and sexual predators. If I believed in the death penalty, I would execute both, but since I don't, I think that life in supermaximum prison with no chance of parole (and castration for the predators) is the appropriate sentence.
As for attempted murder, there are just too many gray areas to allow for mandatory sentencing. Of course, some would wonder how I would make room for the people I would give life in prison. I'd take many laws off the books and release certain other criminals far sooner. That is for another thread, though.

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)