Criminals may be forced to attend sentencing hearings if new rules are introduced that are reportedly being considered by the Ministry of Justice.
The rules are apparently being considered after Sabina Nessa’s killer refused to hear his sentence in Old Bailey on April 7.
The 28-year-old teacher was killed in a park in south-east London by 36-year-old garage worker Kochi Selamai. He was sentenced to a minimum of 36 years in prison for the crime, but was not there to hear the verdict or influence statements by the victim’s family.
Nessa’s sister, Jabina Nessa, called Selemai a coward for “failing to bear your responsibility and for the damage you have done to our family.”
The Sun quoted a government source as saying that Justice Minister Dominique Raab was considering the policy change “very carefully”.
A government source confirmed to the Guardian that the plans are being considered. They said: “He has increased funding for victims by 85% and passed the Victims Act because he believes that victims should always be at the heart of the judiciary.
Steve Reed, Labor’s shadow justice minister, reiterated.
“Judges need the authorities to literally force offenders to stand trial instead of refusing to attend court and cause more unimaginable grief to victims,” he said.
Shadow Prison Minister Eli Reeves told Times Radio: “Victims are not at the heart of the criminal justice system.”
She said Labor wanted judges to keep criminals in “contempt of court” if they refused to attend their sentences in order to shift the balance “back to the victims of the perpetrators”.
“People want to see those who have committed horrific crimes held accountable for what they did,” she said. “We don’t even have a legal victim code in this country,” they promised us again and again.
This Code of Victims provides legal guidance on victims’ rights and sets out the minimum standard that organizations must provide to victims of crime.
Add Comment