Sunak backtracks on pledge to make killers appear in court before next election
Rishi Sunak has backtracked on a promise to urgently act to force killers to appear in court in a betrayal of victims’ families.
The PM failed to commit to changing the law before the next general election to make them attend their sentencing hearings.
The failure to move swiftly comes despite grieving relatives of murder victims demanding ministers stop dragging their feet.
The Mirror has launched the Face Justice campaign to call for an urgent change in the law to force killers to face their victims' families.
Thomas Cashman refused to leave his cell when he was sentenced last month for murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool.
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Other killers who have failed to attend sentencing hearings include the murderers of Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa.
Thomas Cashman refused to appear in court after he killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel (PA)
Jordan McSweeney, who murdered Zara Aleena, also refused to appear for his sentiencing (PA)The Ministry of Justice last month told the Mirror changes would be implemented ahead of the next election to force perpetrators of horrific crimes to appear in court.
The PM yesterday promised to change the law, but declined to commit to a timeframe.
Pressed on the issue during his visit to Japan, Mr Sunak said: "What happened to Olivia in the summer - my daughters are of a similar age and it's absolutely shocking.
“With regards to that we've got a commitment in place. It requires legislation and so we'll have to wait for the legislative opportunity but the commitment that we made stands."
Asked whether the change would come before the next election the PM twice refused to be drawn, saying: "We haven't published the fourth session legislation yet so I wouldn't make any… I'm in a zone now where I won't comment on any legislative things either until we actually publish".
Olivia's mother, Cheryl Korbel, has said she would support a change in the law, saying it was "like a kick in the teeth" after Cashman decided on the last day not to appear in court.
Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel has called for the law to be changed (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)Earlier this month Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed accused ministers of doing "nothing while killers, rapists and terrorists pick and choose whether they turn up to face the consequences of their crimes."
A poll for The Mirror also showed the public overwhelmingly back the move, with three-quarters (78%) saying they would support criminals being forced to attend their hearing.
The sister of murdered teacher Sabina Nessa last month (April) told how her murderer's refusal to attend his sentencing hearing rocked her family.
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Jebina Islam, 31, said cowardly Koci Selamaj even snubbed listening to her impact statement via video link from his cell.
Ms Nessa was killed aged 28 by Selamaj in a park at Kidbrooke, South East London, in September 2021.
In an interview with the Mirror, Ms Islam said: "The law needs to be changed as soon as possible because we're now seeing it quite regularly, when defendants don't appear for their sentencing.
“There's a pattern of behaviour now and it's just not fair on families.
Zara Aleena was killed last June by Jordan McSweeney in Ilford, East London. He also snubbed his sentence hearing.
Her aunt Farah Naz said it left the justice process feeling "incomplete" and added: "We'd wanted to face him when reading our victim impact statements."
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