Merseyside's Police Commissioner has joined calls for new laws to force cowardly criminals like Thomas Cashman to attend sentencing hearings and protect families from the 'ultimate insult' in court.
Emily Spurrell, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the region is writing to Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to urge him to accelerate any intention he has to alter the law to prevent 'despicable criminals' like Thomas Cashman from avoiding being present as judges pass sentence.
Last week the ECHO called for a change in the law after Cashman hid away from the family of his murder victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel. He refused to enter court to hear the judge deliver his 42-year sentence for killing the nine-year-old in Dovecot last summer.
READ MORE: Cowardly child killer Thomas Cashman appeals to have jail term reduced
The ECHO's calls were backed by Labour leader and former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer as well as Olivia's family's MP Ian Byrne who has vowed to help the family push for a change in the law.
Sentencing Cashman to 42 years in prison in his absence, Mrs Justice Yip, described his cowardly act as “disrespectful to the family of the deceased”. That behaviour has prompted an increase in calls to make the appearance of convicted criminals mandatory at all future sentencing hearings.
Ms Spurrell said: “My heart goes out to Olivia’s family and others like them who have experienced this ultimate insult. To deny the family of gaining a measure of closure by refusing to attend court to face up to his sentence shows you what type of individual Cashman and others like him are.
“Sadly, Olivia’s case isn’t unique; Hashem Abedi refused to leave his cell during proceedings when he was convicted of the murder of twenty-two people in the Manchester Arena terror attack. More recently, sexual predator Jordan McSweeney refused to attend his sentencing for the murder of Zara Aleena in Ilford.
“If victims and their families are present in court to share their impact statements, why should a convicted criminal be allowed to choose to be absent? Murderers and others who commit these heinous crimes shouldn’t be allowed to wield that power over bereaved families.
“That is why I’m writing to the Justice Secretary, echoing calls for the mandatory appearance of all convicted criminals at sentencing hearings, so that the justice system reflects and recognises the harrowing experience of bereaved families, by removing the power of refusal to appear from criminals, instead compelling them to do so, or face tougher jail terms. Only then will families, like Olivia’s, get a true sense of justice."
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