Killers will be forced to hear sentencing under new ‘Olivia’s Law’

It has been announced that convicted killers and rapists will no longer be able to skip their sentencing hearings under the new Olivia’s Law.

It comes after a string of recent high profile cases saw criminals avoid their sentencing hearings in court rooms, as they were legally allowed to do so – something many people in the UK were unaware of.

Calls for this to change came from many people who were outraged and family members of victims who saw the killers of their loved ones skip the hearings, causing more pain.

Partly in thanks to the mother of nine-year-old murder victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel – who has successfully campaigned for ‘Olivia’s Law’ – that is about to change.

Cheryl Korbel campaigned for the new law after her daughter’s killer Thomas Cashman chose to remain in his prison cell instead of attending court.

Olivia’s Law, contained within the Criminal Justice Bill which was announced in the King’s Speech, will allow judges to compel defendants to be present for sentencing.

Ms Korbel previously said Cashman’s absence felt like a ‘kick in the teeth’.

Speaking to ITV News, Olivia’s aunt, Antonia Elverson, said the family felt ‘proud’ when they heard King Charles mention the law in his speech, at the state opening of Parliament.

However, she went on to add that they don’t think the proposal is strict enough for offenders.

Ms Elverson said: “Twenty-four months sounds a long time. But if you’re looking at a really lengthy sentence, of 25 plus years, two years is neither here nor there.

“That’s what they’re suggesting, and that’s what they’re going to be putting forward.

“Obviously, we have no choice but to agree with that at the moment. Whether or not that’s something that we look at campaigning against if it’s not a deterrent, I don’t know.”

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Olivia’s mum Ms Korbel said: “It is a very important step forward. It will bring a little bit of comfort knowing that no other family will go through what we’ve been through.

“I really did want to address him – for the pain that he’s put us through, that we’re still going through.

“And to have the audacity to be there for the whole month and then not to turn up on the day of the sentence. It’s disrespectful to the family and to the judge, not to hear the sentence being passed.”

Other killers who have avoided their sentencing in recent hearings include ex-nurse Lucy Letby who was convicted of murdering seven babies, Jordan McSweeney who murdered 35-year-old law graduate Zara Aleena, and Koci Selamaj who murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa.

Under Olivia’s Law, prison officers will be able to use ‘reasonable force’ to get defendants into the dock to hear their sentence, when instructed to do so by a judge.

Judges will also have the power to impose additional punishments, including an extra 24 months on the defendant’s prison sentence if they refuse to show up.

Under current law, judges can only order defendants to attend hearings prior to the verdict being delivered. If defendants refuse to obey, they can be found in contempt of court and face up to two years in prison.

But judges hold no such power over defendants for their sentencing.