SNP is ‘making justice system a laughing stock’
Victim’s family left feeling ‘betrayed’
THE father of a murdered teenager has accused the SNP of turning Scottish justice into an international ‘laughing stock’.
Michelle Stewart, 17, was stabbed to death in 2008 in her home village of Drongan, Ayrshire, by her ex-boyfriend John Wilson, who was later jailed for 12 years.
Her father Kenny and mother Josephine launched a campaign, dubbed ‘Michelle’s Law’, to stop criminals from moving close to the families of their victims, after finding out Wilson was about to be released on temporary home leave after only nine years.
But last night, Mr Stewart said he felt ‘100 per cent betrayed and let down’ by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, who met the family almost a year ago.
Mr Stewart, 59, told the Mail: ‘He guaranteed us change was coming but nothing has happened and in the meantime we’ve only had more soft-touch changes. Mr Yousaf has turned Scottish justice into the laughing stock of the world – he’s planning to put phones into some prisoners’ cells, which could allow them to target victims, or continue their crimes from behind bars.
‘He has promised us one thing but delivered another, and it’s just more soft-touch reform which favours the rights of the criminal over the rights of their victims. I don’t believe Mr Yousaf is in the right job.’
The Justice Secretary met the family in August last year, when they proposed measures to prevent offenders crossing paths with families of their victims.
They say prison governors and the Parole Board should impose location restrictions when granting temporary release or freeing offenders on licence.
At the time, Mr Yousaf described the meeting as ‘constructive’. He added: ‘I told them I would be very openminded to each of their proposals, take them away and come back to them in written form. I gave them as much reassurance as I could that their welfare as a family would be absolutely part of the consideration.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said Mr Yousaf ‘fully understands’ the family’s concerns, adding: ‘We want a criminal justice system that puts the needs of victims at its centre, which is why we launched a consultation on proposals which include elements of the Michelle’s Law proposals.’
The spokesman said a report on the findings will follow ‘in due course’.