Meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer was 'surreal', says OIivia's mum
The mother of a nine-year-old girl who was murdered in Liverpool has described a meeting with the prime minister as "surreal" as she continues her campaign to stop criminals refusing to attend sentencing hearings.Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead in her family home in August 2022 as gunman Thomas Cashman fired shots at a rival drug dealer he was chasing.Her mother Cheryl Korbel met Sir Keir Starmer to discuss her campaign after this week's prime ministers questions, alongside her cousin Antonia ElversonMs Korbel said: "I think I'm still in shock, because we've been thrown into a world we knew nothing about. So even sitting in the House of Commons it's – mouth open, surreal."
Ms Korbel began her fight after Olivia's killer Cashman refused to appear in the dock for his sentencing.A new bill has since been introduced in parliament that could give judges additional powers to punish offenders who skip their sentencing.
Starmer praised Ms Korbel and said her determination to bring about change would be "heard by the whole world".Ms Korbel's victim impact statement from Cashman's trial was read to the Commons by her MP Anneliese Midgley during a debate on the Victims and Courts Bill yesterday.Ms Elverson said: "We were actually invited to PMQs by the prime minister. It was important that we were there to hear what he had to say about Cheryl's statement."And as he said, it will be heard around the world. "Then we had a private meeting with Sir Keir afterwards which was a really nice moment."
It is not the first time the family have met the prime minister, who last year said the pledge to bring in the law was a "promise" he "intended to keep".Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, Ms Korbel said: "Me as a person, if something needs doing it gets done. "Olivia and the other families who have gone through this are the driving force so other families don't have to go through what we did." In the Commons, Starmer said: "I am always humbled by those with the courage to respond to appalling heartbreak by campaigning for change and I know the whole house will pay tribute to her extraordinary courage and resolve."
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Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Starmer has brought Labour to the brink of extinction. This makes him even more dangerous
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The Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Sun
Love Island's Kyle Ashman reveals he wants show return as Casa Amor hunk after being axed over machete attack arrest
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STATUS: Still together. 2022 - Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu's time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public's hearts - and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up. 2021 - Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together. 2020 - The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up. 2019 - Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O'Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up. 2018 - It wasn't surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn't last. STATUS: Broken up. 2017 - Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win. STATUS: Broken up. 2016 - Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they've had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together. 2015 - Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley's second choice on the show, they did win - but they didn't last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up.
The Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Sun
Idiot yob snared after driving motorbike into freezing river & catching HYPOTHERMIA to evade cops in high-speed chase
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