Criminals like Lucy Letby will be dragged to sentencing hearings to face justice
Criminals will be forced to attend their sentencing hearings amid a growing trend of murderers refusing to leave their cells and face families in court. The reform was finally announced today after months of Tories dragging their feet.
Officers will be given legal powers to use "reasonable force" to make criminals appear in the dock or via video link. If an offender continues to resist attending their sentencing despite a judge’s order, they will face an extra two years behind bars. This new penalty will apply in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes like murder, rape, and grievous bodily harm with intent.
The change will mean victims "can look offenders in the eye and tell them of the devastating consequences of their crime as they read out their impact statement, rather than addressing an empty dock", the Ministry of Justice said. It comes after families were denied the opportunity to read their victim personal statements to killer nurse Lucy Letby, who refused to leave her jail cell last week. She was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others.
Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena but refused to attend court for sentencing (SWNS)The government's announcement is a victory for the Mirror, which has called for a change in the law. Families who were denied the opportunity to see their loved one's killers face justice, including Farah Naz and Cheryl Korbel, alongside others like Ayse Hussein and Jebina Islam, have all also tirelessly campaigned for the reform.
In June last year year, Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena but decided he could not bear to listen to the details of his crime being repeated in court. In August the same year, Thomas Cashman shot dead nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the daughter of Cheryl Korbel, in her own home and callously chose not to hear the impact her death had on her family at his sentencing.
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Cheryl said today: "I just hope she's proud of what we've done because at the end of the day, it's in her name. That's why we've done this, and not only in her name, but for every other family out there that have gone through it and we just hope that it gets changed so no one else has to go through it." The tearful mum, who was speaking in the No10 rose garden, told ITV News that Olivia would be "in awe" of everything that's gone on today, adding: "especially with the garden at the minute, it'd be a huge hide and seek game for her".
Thomas Cashman shot dead nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel and callously chose not to hear the impact her death had (PA)
Her mum Cheryl Korbel met with Rishi Sunak today after tirelessly campaigning for a change in the law (PA)Ministers have been accused of dragging their feet on introducing the legislation, with the delays meaning more families have had to suffer. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said he was committed to changing the law in June but he failed to give a timeframe for when he would do this. His predecessor Dominic Raab also made the promise in February. The announcement today also failed to set out a full timetable for changing the law. The Ministry of Justice said: "Legislation to introduce these changes will be set out in due course."
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed said: “We called for new laws on this back in April last year – but the Conservatives have dragged their feet. This is the fourth time in over 18 months the government has promised action – and yet again they have failed to outline a proper timeline on when they will act. In government, Labour will give judges the power to force offenders to face justice in court. The families of victims deserve nothing less.”
Speaking about her daughter, Cheryl said: 'I just hope she's proud of what we've done because at the end of the day' (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street)
Rishi Sunak said: 'It is unacceptable that some of the country’s most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court' (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street)He added: “It is disrespectful and grossly offensive to victims that brutal murderers, terrorists and rapists can refuse to face the consequences of their crimes in court. If the defendant doesn't come and face justice, it’s beyond cowardly, and can have a devastating impact on victims and their families. This can be a vital part of seeing justice done."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “It is unacceptable that some of the country’s most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward’s way out. That’s why we are giving judges the power to order vile offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with those who refuse facing being forced into the dock or spending longer behind bars.”
Mr Chalk said: “Every time a cowardly criminal hides from justice by refusing to appear in the dock for their sentencing it is another insult to their victims and their families. Our reforms will give judges the power to order offenders to come to court to hear the impact of their crimes directly from victims, so that they begin their sentences with society’s condemnation ringing in their ears.”
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