Petition backed by the mother of murdered Hull Uni student Libby Squire passes 10,000 signatures
It calls for offenders who take a life to be forced to hear their sentence in court
A week ago the mother of murdered University of Hull student Libby Squire told us she backs calls for offenders who take a life to be forced to appear in Court to hear their sentence.
Now a petition asking for that change will have to be responded to by the Government after reaching over ten thousand signatures.
Lisa Squire supports our Face the Family campaign.
Yet again it's another part of the perpetrator having all the rights
She believes it's crucial they not only hear the sentencing but also the victim impact statement.
We spoke to her following the announcement.
She said: " The Government need to do something - if the perpetrator refuses to come out of their cell then you should have a sanction for that."
"After the verdict they go away and come back for sentencing, that's when you read your victim impact statement so why not do it after the verdict is given."
"He is in the courtroom - he is there for that."
"Yet again it's another part of the perpetrator having all the rights."
I just think it's disgusting.
"The victim has no rights - the family have no rights and he can decide whether he wants to come out of his cell to hear the sentence."
"I just think it's disgusting."
"I just hope the Government will listen to us because everyone is outraged."
"Why should the perpetrator have the ability to say he's not going to come up and listen to his sentence."
"It's obviously at sentencing that we as the family members get to read our family impact statements and that's really really important to tell that perpetrator what they've taken from us."