Government urged to bring in legislation after child killer avoided facing families of her victims.
The refusal of serial child killer Lucy Letby to attend her sentencing and hear the testimony of her victims’ families produced widespread support for a change in the law in Tuesday’s newspapers.
While admitting forcing criminals to attend their sentencing may prove difficult, the newspaper’s leader column said: “Like a number of other murderers in recent years, Letby refused to attend court on the final days of her ten-month trial. To the surprise of many, there is no law to compel her to do so.“It matters that the public sees these penalties imposed and hears the judge’s reasoning explained in person to those convicted.
“I strongly agree that it is better for families to be able to see the defendant and their reaction to what is being said in court, but we should not risk giving any power to the defendant to delay or even halt proceedings.” “They would be compelled to hear, if not to listen to, the statements of the bereaved and the judge’s sentencing remarks.”