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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| More victim families may get say | More victim families may get say |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A scheme which allows relatives of victims to speak at murder or manslaughter trials may be extended, the government has said. | A scheme which allows relatives of victims to speak at murder or manslaughter trials may be extended, the government has said. |
| Since last April, 21 families have chosen to make statements in a pilot scheme running in five Crown Courts. | Since last April, 21 families have chosen to make statements in a pilot scheme running in five Crown Courts. |
| Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman said if the 12-month experiment was a success, it may be adopted by other courts and apply to more crimes. | |
| But some judges fear statements make an already emotional situation worse. | But some judges fear statements make an already emotional situation worse. |
| The Victim's Advocate scheme allows relatives of victims the chance to address the court - before sentencing - about the impact of the death. | The Victim's Advocate scheme allows relatives of victims the chance to address the court - before sentencing - about the impact of the death. |
| Road deaths | Road deaths |
| Ms Harman said until now bereaved relatives have had to sit at the back of the court "in complete silence". | Ms Harman said until now bereaved relatives have had to sit at the back of the court "in complete silence". |
| "How it feels to be the victim's relatives is that everybody speaks about the person who is dead except the person who is affected most," she told BBC News. | "How it feels to be the victim's relatives is that everybody speaks about the person who is dead except the person who is affected most," she told BBC News. |
| People need to hear the ripple effects of what is caused - he's not just taken that person's life but he has devastated an entire family Yvonne Davenport | People need to hear the ripple effects of what is caused - he's not just taken that person's life but he has devastated an entire family Yvonne Davenport |
| "If it helps just a bit, I think the legal system should be prepared to cope with it." | "If it helps just a bit, I think the legal system should be prepared to cope with it." |
| A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs said causing death by dangerous driving was among the offences which could be included in the scheme. | A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs said causing death by dangerous driving was among the offences which could be included in the scheme. |
| The scheme has the backing of a number of victim support groups. | The scheme has the backing of a number of victim support groups. |
| Yvonne Davenport, whose partner Lee Pickles was murdered at a house party last year, prepared a statement which was read out in court after his killer was convicted. | Yvonne Davenport, whose partner Lee Pickles was murdered at a house party last year, prepared a statement which was read out in court after his killer was convicted. |
| "People need to hear the ripple effects of what is caused. He's not just taken that person's life but he has devastated an entire family," she said. | "People need to hear the ripple effects of what is caused. He's not just taken that person's life but he has devastated an entire family," she said. |
| "You should have the right to say this crime has done this to my life." | "You should have the right to say this crime has done this to my life." |
| 'Influence sentences' | 'Influence sentences' |
| But John Samuels, a member of the Council of Circuit Judges, argued it could suggest to the public that the relative might influence the judge in his sentencing. | But John Samuels, a member of the Council of Circuit Judges, argued it could suggest to the public that the relative might influence the judge in his sentencing. |
| "We think that would be quite wrong because the judge must impose the appropriate sentence for the case which comes before him. | "We think that would be quite wrong because the judge must impose the appropriate sentence for the case which comes before him. |
| "Judges are human and to impose on the judge an increase in the emotional atmosphere as a result of this kind of response is to make the judge's role that much more difficult." | "Judges are human and to impose on the judge an increase in the emotional atmosphere as a result of this kind of response is to make the judge's role that much more difficult." |
| But Ms Harman said judges who hear murder cases were at the top of their profession and there can be confidence in their "judgement and professionalism". | But Ms Harman said judges who hear murder cases were at the top of their profession and there can be confidence in their "judgement and professionalism". |
| London's Old Bailey and crown courts in Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Winchester are part of the scheme. | London's Old Bailey and crown courts in Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Winchester are part of the scheme. |