I have renewed my call for new legislation to enable judges to force convicts to face their victims at sentencing hearings.
The case of former neonatal nurse and child serial killer, Lucy Letby, who was sentenced yesterday to a whole life order for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of another six, is the latest of a string of high-profile criminals that have chosen not to appear at their sentencing hearings.
As a nurse, Lucy Letby should have been someone the families could trust. Instead, she preyed upon the innocent in the most cruel and inexplicable fashion. Her crimes of targeting newborn babies are uniquely cruel and she should have been at her own sentencing, if necessary by force, to face up to the enormity of her actions and understand the longstanding impact they have had.
I called for a change in the law to compel convicted criminals to attend sentencing hearings nine years ago when Colin Ash-Smith was sentenced for the brutal killing of 16-year-old Claire Tiltman in Greenhithe. He also refused to appear in the dock to hear the victim impact statements of the families and the Judge's sentencing. It is an act of complete cowardice and a final insult to the families of the victims.
It cannot be right that a judge has no power whatsoever to bring someone to court to make them hear the consequences of their actions. The Government must change the law and bring an end to this injustice. I am reassured that the Prime Minister has committed to taking this forward and it will be included as part of the King's Speech in November this year.
To read the article that appeared in 2014, please click on the button below.
Kent online article after the sentencing of Colin Ash-Smith