Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has condemned defendants who refuse to appear in court for their sentencing, describing it as a final insult to victims and their families. During a parliamentary session discussing the victims and courts bill, the emotional victim impact statement of Cheryl Korbel, mother of murder victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was read out. Thomas Cashman, her daughter's killer, did not attend his sentencing. Proposed legislation, known as Olivia's law, aims to impose additional prison time on defendants who refuse to be present for their sentencing.
When a guilty defendant fails to show up to hear how their crime has shattered lives, it is a final insult to victims and their families.
I was not able to do CPR properly on her because of my injury. I felt helpless. It was only then my neighbour came in and tried all he could to save my baby.
Let them ring out in this chamber, as they should have in Thomas Cashman's ears that day.
I was the first person to hold my baby girl and as her mum I should have been the last.
Collection
[
|
...
]