Challenging ‘lenient’ cases…

In response to the campaigns made, namely by Katie Brett and Tracey Hansen, the Ministry of Justice has increased the amount of time a victims’ family will have to challenge the prison sentence on the believe that it is too lenient. Originally the family would have 28 days to ask for a sentence to be reconsidered, now they will have 6 months. This change will be added to the Victims and Courts Bill.

Katie Brett was the sister of Sasha Marsden. The heartbreaking case of Sasha led Katie to strongly campaign for this change to be made. Sasha was a 16-year-old girl, who was stabbed 58 times and then raped by David Minto. Minto was given a 35-year jail sentence, where after having served that time, he can be released on licence. Katie Brett explained that after hearing the sentence that Minto received, she had never been told that the family were able to challenge this sentence. They felt it was too lenient, and justice has not been served for Sasha, they wanted a whole-life order. One the family found out that the sentence could be reconsidered, it was too late, and the 28 days had passed.

Tracey Hansen was the mother of Josh Hansen. Josh was a 21-year-old boy, who was killed by Shane O’Brien in London. O’Brien was given a prison sentence of 26 years. Tracey also explained that she too had not been told that she was able to challenge this sentence, and possibly have it increased.

From the successful campaigns made by Katie and Tracey, this change has been made. Families will have up to 6 months to challenge a sentence given, and there will be a legal duty to notify the families of this right.