Murder victims’ families want law reform to help them get closure
EXCLUSIVE
LOUIE SMITH and FIONA DUFFY
MURDER victims’ families are demanding new laws to punish the killers who desecrate bodies.
They want two new criminal offences – “desecration of a corpse” and “concealing a body” – to be introduced to acknowledge the additional agony caused to loved ones.
The proposed laws would apply to cases such as that of Sarah Everard, 33, whose body was burned by killer police officer, Wayne Couzens.
The calls are being led by Marie McCourt, whose successful Helen’s Law campaign has resulted in killers being denied parole if they do not disclose where their victims’ bodies are.
Existing common law offences, such as “preventing a lawful burial”, are rarely applied by prosecutors. Marie, 78, whose
22-year-old daughter Helen was killed by pub landlord Ian Simms in 1988, said: “As forensic detective methods become more sophisticated, killers are resorting to ever-more desperate measures to hide evidence of their crimes.
“There has been a significant rise in cases of homicide victims being dismembered and burned.
“The distress this causes the victim’s family is untold. Yet all too often, the killer receives no further punishment for the acts committed after the initial homicide.
“Other countries, such as the USA, Australia, Germany and France all have crimes in place to address these appalling offences. The UK doesn’t. Without a change in the law, cases will continue to rise.” Helen’s Law, which Marie spent decades campaigning for, came into force earlier this year. Her Stop the Desecration campaign – backed by the families of murder victims including April Jones, Michael O’Leary and Lorraine Cox – is due to be discussed in the House of Lords today. The proposed amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled by Liberal Democrat Peer, Baroness Sal Brinton. She said: “There can be few things worse for a family than hearing that a loved one has been murdered. To then learn that their remains have been further abused, or for their body to never be recovered, brings unimaginable emotional distress.
“Sadly, the current laws are inadequate, with courts and prosecutors rarely looking to resolve the anguish caused by these unspeakable acts.
“These new offences will ensure murderers are properly punished for all the horrific acts they commit, bringing closure to grieving families.”
Independent Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman also supports Marie’s proposals.
She said: “This amendment would bring into legislation new offences which reflect the true horror of these acts, and recognises that such acts prevent these families from getting closure and healing.”
The distress caused to the victims’ families is untold
MARIE McCOURT WHO IS LEADING THE CAMPAIGN