Comment: Liberal means to many things.  Socialists and progressives don't describe themselves that way.

As for this case, life without parole is a death sentence through slow torture.  Letting the inmate chose to go out more quickly is just speeding up the process.  Most would if given the choice.  Of course, unless a prisoner is a sociopath, he should never be given life without parole.  Either rehabilitate and free him or kill him.