The parents of Sarah Everard are leading a new campaign group advocating for harsher sentencing for violent and sexual offenders, following the tragic abduction, rape, and murder of their daughter in 2021 by a Metropolitan Police officer. Concerned about ensuring that sentences accurately reflect the gravity of the crime, Jeremy and Susan Everard are pushing for justice reform. The Ministry of Justice has initiated a review of sentencing practices with the aim of imposing stricter penalties on offenders and enhancing public safety.
Reflecting on the sentencing of their daughter’s murderer to a whole life order, Mr. and Mrs. Everard expressed a sense of relief that his heinous crime was duly acknowledged. They emphasized the importance of adequate punishment that acknowledges the value of their daughter’s life. Joining them in the cause is Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, a double amputee who lost his legs due to abuse inflicted by his biological parents when he was just 41 days old.
The coalition also includes parents of other victims, such as Violet-Grace Youens, a four-year-old killed in a speeding incident, and Mihrican Mustafa, known as Jan, whose body was discovered in a freezer a year after she went missing. The group is united in seeking more severe consequences for offenders, emphasizing the enduring impact of criminal acts on victims’ families. Katie Brett, who lost her 16-year-old sister Sasha Marsden to a stabbing incident in 2013, stressed the need for murderers to face life imprisonment to honor the memories of their loved ones.
As the discussions on justice reform continue, the Ministry of Justice has affirmed its commitment to prioritizing the needs of victims within the criminal justice system. In response to growing public concerns about lenient punishment for serious crimes, Justice for Victims is engaging with lawmakers to advocate for substantive changes in sentencing guidelines. The group’s meeting with cross-party MPs and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch signals a collaborative effort to address the shortcomings in the justice system and ensure that perpetrators face appropriate consequences for their actions
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