Bullies who kill partner face at least 25 years’ jail

BULLYING partners who go on to commit murder could get at least 25 years in jail – the same as if they had used a weapon, it was revealed yesterday.

Ministers will look at introducing the new minimum sentences for murderers who use ‘coercive or controlling behaviour’, with a consultation paper to be published in the summer.

In the meantime, the law will be changed to allow judges to treat coercive control and ‘excessive or gratuitous violence’ as aggravating factors, adding years to jail terms.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: ‘This Government will do everything we can to protect vulnerable women, and keep in prison for longer those who attack or threaten them.’

Ministers also want tougher punishments for offenders who kill during so-called ‘rough sex’. It comes after a review of domestic homicide sentences by barrister Clare Wade KC, to be published today. One in four murders in England and Wales are committed by a current or ex-partner or another relative.

Ms Wade’s review found that of those, 51 per cent involved controlling or coercive behaviour.