This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-65173499
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Thomas Cashman: Call for criminals to be forced to attend sentencing | Thomas Cashman: Call for criminals to be forced to attend sentencing |
(32 minutes later) | |
Zara Aleena's killer refused to appear in the dock during his sentencing hearing | Zara Aleena's killer refused to appear in the dock during his sentencing hearing |
Criminals should be forced to appear in person when being sentenced, the aunt of a murdered law graduate said after Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer refused. | Criminals should be forced to appear in person when being sentenced, the aunt of a murdered law graduate said after Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer refused. |
Thomas Cashman would not enter the dock on Monday when being sentenced for the nine-year-old's murder in Liverpool. | Thomas Cashman would not enter the dock on Monday when being sentenced for the nine-year-old's murder in Liverpool. |
Farah Naz said Zara Aleena's killer, who also refused to go into the dock, wrongly took power in the courtroom. | Farah Naz said Zara Aleena's killer, who also refused to go into the dock, wrongly took power in the courtroom. |
She called on Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to ensure such offenders should also have their sentences increased. | |
"Surely the judgment is part of the punishment," she said. "We need to see that the process will deter further crime and how can the process feel like a punishment if the convict actually exercises their bit of power? | |
"It's the last bit of power that needs to be taken away, certainly in our eyes. | |
"I would like Dominic Raab to move forward with developing this law." | |
'Imbalance' | |
Ms Naz's 35-year-old niece was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney after he attacked her while walking home from a night out in Ilford, Essex, on 26 June. | |
"We all wanted to face him when we were reading out victim impact statements," said Ms Naz. | |
"We wanted to be able to see him be sentenced, be judged, and to face the courtroom to face his judgement." | |
Ms Naz said McSweeney's refusal to appear before the judge showed an "imbalance" in the legal system. | Ms Naz said McSweeney's refusal to appear before the judge showed an "imbalance" in the legal system. |
"We wanted to watch him watch the footage of his murdering Zara - what he did to her," she said. | "We wanted to watch him watch the footage of his murdering Zara - what he did to her," she said. |
"As a result the whole legal process felt incomplete." | "As a result the whole legal process felt incomplete." |
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer also refused to appear in the dock | Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer also refused to appear in the dock |
Ms Naz said it felt like "he still had some amount of power". | |
"He took power over Zara and then... in the courtroom he took power. It felt like he was able to have that," she said. | "He took power over Zara and then... in the courtroom he took power. It felt like he was able to have that," she said. |
"Surely once they have been convicted... all their rights are removed? | "Surely once they have been convicted... all their rights are removed? |
"They have committed a heinous crime and once they have been convicted surely... their rights are taken away?" | "They have committed a heinous crime and once they have been convicted surely... their rights are taken away?" |
Cashman, 34, was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 42 years for killing Olivia and injuring her mother Cheryl Korbel as he chased a fellow drug dealer into their Dovecot home on 22 August. | Cashman, 34, was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 42 years for killing Olivia and injuring her mother Cheryl Korbel as he chased a fellow drug dealer into their Dovecot home on 22 August. |
Sentencing him in absentia at Manchester Crown Court, Mrs Justice Amanda Yip said drug dealer Cashman's refusal to appear in court was "disrespectful" to Olivia's family. | Sentencing him in absentia at Manchester Crown Court, Mrs Justice Amanda Yip said drug dealer Cashman's refusal to appear in court was "disrespectful" to Olivia's family. |
She said he was "not of previous good character", had made it clear he was a criminal, and had "demonstrated no remorse". | She said he was "not of previous good character", had made it clear he was a criminal, and had "demonstrated no remorse". |
"His failure to come into court is further evidence of that," she said. | "His failure to come into court is further evidence of that," she said. |
Thomas Cashman was convicted of murdering the nine-year-old girl | Thomas Cashman was convicted of murdering the nine-year-old girl |
Commenting on Cashman's refusal to enter the dock, a Ministry of Justice source said Olivia and her family "weren't able to hide from Thomas Cashman's crime, so he shouldn't be able to hide from justice". | Commenting on Cashman's refusal to enter the dock, a Ministry of Justice source said Olivia and her family "weren't able to hide from Thomas Cashman's crime, so he shouldn't be able to hide from justice". |
The source said: "This is exactly why the Deputy Prime Minister [Dominic Raab] is committed to changing the law so that offenders are forced to face the consequences of their actions." | The source said: "This is exactly why the Deputy Prime Minister [Dominic Raab] is committed to changing the law so that offenders are forced to face the consequences of their actions." |
Following McSweeney's sentencing, Dominic Raab said in February he was examining whether judges should be able to impose longer terms on those who refused to come to court. | Following McSweeney's sentencing, Dominic Raab said in February he was examining whether judges should be able to impose longer terms on those who refused to come to court. |
Steve Reed, shadow justice secretary, has also repeated Labour's calls for a change in the law to force criminals to face justice. | |
He said it was "an insult" that Cashman had "spinelessly refused to face sentencing in court for killing Olivia". | |
"For victims and their families, this can be a vital part of seeing justice done," he said. | "For victims and their families, this can be a vital part of seeing justice done," he said. |
"Victims deserve better." | "Victims deserve better." |
Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Liverpool | Liverpool |
Ilford | Ilford |