Chesterfield mum campaigning for tougher laws on false pleas
Yvonne Henchliffe, whose son died in a 'one punch kill', is calling for a new law to add years to manslaughter sentences.
A Chesterfield mum is calling for a new law which'll help bring justice to families who have lost loved ones to manslaughter.
Yvonne Henchliffe's son, Chris, died after a 'one punch kill' in 2016.
After Chris' killer pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, Yvonne said the legal process, prolonged their suffering and prevented closure:
"The grief and pain were overwhelming, forever changing my life and leaving an everlasting void in our family. However, what made this unbearable situation even worse was the prolonged legal process that followed."
"Boys go out, boys fight, we get that. If he'd have pleaded guilty right in the beginning, right on the onset, it would have made so much difference to us."
"We couldn't grieve, the defence had got his body, the prosecution got his body and they were going to and forth and then they decided they wanted his body again."
Chris' killer was later found guilty.
Yvonne's now proposing 'Victims Law', which will add 3 to 5 years to a manslaughter sentence when someone enters a false plea:
"By doing so, we can ensure that those who choose deception over accountability face appropriate consequences while providing some measure of compensation for victims' families who endure additional suffering due to prolonged legal processes.
"This proposed legislation is not intended as revenge but rather seeks fairness and justice for all parties involved in cases where lives are unjustly taken. It is crucial to note that the additional years added to the sentence would only be applicable when a false plea of not guilty is proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
The online campaign - which started last month - has almost reached 500 signatures.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said:
"This was a tragic crime and our thoughts remain with Chris Henchcliffe’s family and friends.
The independent judges who decide sentences already take into account a defendant’s guilty plea when making these decisions, with up to a third reduction for those who spare victims the agony of coming to court.”