I will help family of murdered Michelle, vows justice minister
THE family of a teenager murdered by her boyfriend were yesterday given reassurances by the Justice Secretary over their campaign for radical reforms in the Scottish justice system
Humza Yousaf pledged to put an action plan in place after a two-hour meeting with the parents and relatives of Michelle Stewart.
His promise comes ten years after Miss Stewart, 17, was stabbed to death in her home village of Drongan, Ayrshire, by her 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 Wilson was to be released after only nine years.
The move came despite the judge making it clear he should serve his entire sentence before being able to apply for parole.
Mr Yousaf described the meeting in Ayr as ‘constructive’, saying: ‘Michelle Stewart’s family came to me with a range of proposals of what they thought should be done in the justice system.
‘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 their welfare as a family would be absolutely part of the consideration. I have taken the challenge to see how we can strengthen that.
‘I don’t see why, very early on, we can’t look at how we are able to improve victims’ rights.’
The proposals put forward by the Stewarts are designed to stop offenders such as Wilson crossing paths with the families of their victims. Under the plans, prison governors would be encouraged to impose location restrictions when granting temporary release.
The Parole Board for Scotland would be encouraged to include such restrictions as part of a released offender’s licence, which can say they must ‘stay away’ from designated areas.
Following the meeting, Mr Stewart, 58, said: ‘It was very constructive, a lot of things were raised and points put forward about how we feel changes can be made to the system. The minister took it all on board, didn’t hurry us and wrote down the information we had.
‘I felt he was listening. They are not going to change the law instantly but it’s a step in the right direction.’
He added: ‘When Wilson got sentenced and the parole board made the decision to release him, we didn’t get a say in that decision and I want families to have more input.
‘I don’t want this to happen to any other family – this isn’t just for Michelle, this is for everybody. There are a lot of people suffering like we are suffering.’
Ayr Tory MSP John Scott, who has backed the campaign, said: ‘The Stewart family need more than words from the SNP Government, they need action.’