Buckinghamshire mother tells us it's vital families get to face killers in court
Families of murder victims are joining forces with our 'Face the Family' campaign to push for a change in the law
Last updated 13th Jul 2023
The mother of Libby Squire, who was murdered in Hull back in 2019, told us about the empowering moment she experienced when she faced her daughter’s killer.
It comes as our Face the Family petition, which calls for tougher sentences imposed on offenders who refuse to attend their own sentencing, reached over 12,000 signatures earlier this week.
When a petition hits 10,000 signatures, the government is forced to respond, giving hope of a change in the law for the families of victims.
"...everybody is outraged"
Lisa Squire, from High Wycombe, was given the opportunity to face her daughter’s killer in court.
She said: “I was able to look him in the eye and tell him who Libby was and what Libby meant to me, to her dad and to her brother and sisters. For a short moment in time, you have control and that’s really important when your loved one has been taken from you.”
“Hopefully the government will listen to us because everybody is outraged”, she added.
The campaign was launched by Bauer Media in the wake of several high-profile cases in which offenders failed to appear to hear victim impact statements and sentencing.
Ms Squire told us that seeing a killer face-to-face is a crucial part of any family’s grieving process. It gives the family a power where it otherwise feels powerless.
She said: “It’s another part of the perpetrator having all the rights. The victim had no rights. The family has no rights. And he can decide whether he wants to come out of his cell to have his sentence”.
Ms Squire is hoping the government will allow the justice system to impose longer sentences for failure to appear at the dock.
You can sign the petition and join the ‘Face the Family’ campaign here.