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'Suzanne's Law' planned in parole reforms | 'Suzanne's Law' planned in parole reforms |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Killers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims' remains may not be freed from jail under proposals published by the Scottish government. | Killers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims' remains may not be freed from jail under proposals published by the Scottish government. |
The idea is named Suzanne's Law after Suzanne Pilley, whose body is believed to have been buried in a remote part of Argyll following her murder in 2010. | The idea is named Suzanne's Law after Suzanne Pilley, whose body is believed to have been buried in a remote part of Argyll following her murder in 2010. |
David Gilroy, who was found guilty of the killing, has never said where her body could be found. | David Gilroy, who was found guilty of the killing, has never said where her body could be found. |
The move is one of a number of proposals to reform the parole system. | The move is one of a number of proposals to reform the parole system. |
The others include the introduction of GPS technology to monitor offenders in the community which could allow exclusion zones for offenders to be more effectively enforced. | The others include the introduction of GPS technology to monitor offenders in the community which could allow exclusion zones for offenders to be more effectively enforced. |
What reforms are proposed? | What reforms are proposed? |
'Fair and robust' | 'Fair and robust' |
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said Scotland had a fair and robust parole system but victims and their families could feel left out. | Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said Scotland had a fair and robust parole system but victims and their families could feel left out. |
He said the proposals would give victims a greater voice in the parole process and take their safety and welfare into account. | He said the proposals would give victims a greater voice in the parole process and take their safety and welfare into account. |
Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, welcomed the possibility of victims having the option of being able to attend parole hearings. | |
Ms Wallace said bereaved families had been campaigning for the introduction of Suzanne's Law. | |
She said: "Families struggle to understand why somebody could be eligible for parole when they haven't disclosed where a body is." | |
In England, the mother of murder victim Helen McCourt has said she is "horrified" that her daughter's killer will be freed despite never revealing where his victim's body is. | In England, the mother of murder victim Helen McCourt has said she is "horrified" that her daughter's killer will be freed despite never revealing where his victim's body is. |
Ian Simms was jailed in 1989 for murdering 22-year-old Helen and his seventh application for parole has "met the test for release". | Ian Simms was jailed in 1989 for murdering 22-year-old Helen and his seventh application for parole has "met the test for release". |
Helen's mother Marie has been campaigning for Helen's Law and the parents of murdered Edinburgh book-keeper Suzanne Pilley also campaigned for a similar change to Scots law. | Helen's mother Marie has been campaigning for Helen's Law and the parents of murdered Edinburgh book-keeper Suzanne Pilley also campaigned for a similar change to Scots law. |
Murders without a body | |
How do you solve a murder without a body? | |
Murder cases where there is no body are still extremely rare in Scottish courts, but prosecutors say technology has increased the likelihood of them being brought before a jury. | |
What is parole? | What is parole? |
Parole is a system which allows prisoners to be released back into the community on licence before the end of the sentence laid down by the courts - or at the end of a "punishment part" in the case of a life sentence. | Parole is a system which allows prisoners to be released back into the community on licence before the end of the sentence laid down by the courts - or at the end of a "punishment part" in the case of a life sentence. |
The Parole Board for Scotland is an independent body which makes recommendations on the release of prisoners. It makes these decisions based on a rigorous risk assessment process. | The Parole Board for Scotland is an independent body which makes recommendations on the release of prisoners. It makes these decisions based on a rigorous risk assessment process. |
Public protection is the Parole Board's primary concern and the board must be satisfied the prisoner no longer poses a risk to the public before they can be released. | Public protection is the Parole Board's primary concern and the board must be satisfied the prisoner no longer poses a risk to the public before they can be released. |
If an offender on licence commits a further offence, or behaves in a way that breaches their licence before the period of their sentence has expired, they can be immediately recalled to prison to serve the remainder of it. |
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