Yeah well the point is you can't assume what a sentence will actually mean, it depends on the local laws. If this happened in VA, he would be serving at least 8.5 years, the end.Probably was directly in response to the nonsensical short period of time criminals were actually serving a while back in that state.
From the 90s in Virginia:
The prison sentence was really just for the benefit of the public who would hear of a murder, be happy the guy got 50 year sentence, but then not realize that, on average, 5.5 years later he was out on the streets again like nothing ever happened, while his victim is still in the ground.