The Government has announced that it will be increasing the mandatory minimum sentence for domestic homicide, with the backing of key charities.
Under the plans that have been revealed, those convicted of domestic homicide will face a minimum life sentence starting point of 25 years. At the moment, this starting point is set at 15 years. The confirmation of the change by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been greeted with approval by both Women’s Aid and Refuge. It is a change to the law that a domestic violence solicitor in North Wales and the rest of the UK will need to be conscious of.
Ellie Butt works for Refuge as its Head of Public Affairs and Policy. She told Family Law that it represents real progress. She added:
“This is both a crucial step towards improved justice for victims and a much-needed acknowledgment of how horrific a crime domestic homicide truly is.”
Butt continued by saying that dozens of women lose their lives to it each year and that it should be taken as seriously as possible by the law. She pointed out that almost all of them are forced to suffer long-term physical and mental abuse before they are eventually killed.
In conclusion, Butt stated that no prison sentence can repair the damage that domestic homicide causes, but this at least demonstrates a zero-tolerance attitude towards it.
Here at Bennett Smith Solicitors, we offer a range of family law services, including help with domestic violence cases. Call our solicitors in Gwynedd now to benefit from our highly personalised support.
