Sir Keir Starmer commits to passing Olivia's Law 'as quickly as we can' after meeting Cheryl Korbel
The mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel has met with the prime minister, after campaigning for criminals to be compelled to appear in the dock for sentencing.
Cheryl Korbel spoke with Sir Keir Starmer, alongside Olivia's aunt Antonia Elverson, after attending PMQs in Westminster.
The prime minister praised the pair for campaigning for Olivia's Law, renewing his commitment to seeing it through.
He said: "You've changed the lives of other families who sadly will go through the awful trauma you've been through, but now have the opportunity to see the perpetrator sentenced and to put that victim impact statement, or whatever it may be, to him or her."
Sir Keir Starmer promised to carry on the pledge to change the law, first made by his predecessor Rishi Sunak, when he met with Ms Korbel in January this year.
He concluded by saying: "We'll get it through as quickly as we can now, and it will go through intact".
Yesterday, the words of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mother were spoken in parliament by an MP, as measures to compel criminals to appear in the dock for sentencing were brought to the Commons.
In an emotional contribution, Anneliese Midgley read out Cheryl Korbel's victim's statement, which her nine-year-old daughter's killer "refused to hear" in court.
Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia as he chased a drug dealer who had tried to run into her home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, did not appear to hear his life sentence in April 2023.
As Ms Korbel watched tearfully from the gallery, the Labour MP for Knowsley praised her for her campaigning on Olivia's law.
Under the legislation, judges will be given the power to sentence offenders for up to two more years in prison for avoiding sentencing hearings.
For offenders who already face lengthy imprisonment or whole life orders, judges could also impose a range of prison punishments such as confinement to their cells and being stripped of privileges such as extra gym time.
The measures are part of the Victims and Courts Bill, which had its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday.
In her victim statement, Ms Korbel described Olivia as "the light of our lives, our beautiful, sassy, chatty girl who never ran out of energy".
Ms Korbel had also said: "My worst nightmare was being separated from Liv and not being with her when she needed me the most, I was the first person to hold my baby girl, and as her mum, I should have been the last.
"I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the terrifying screams, the utter devastation he has caused, he doesn't care, how could he?
"His actions have left the biggest hole in our lives that can never be filled.
"That man set out to do a job and he didn't care about anyone else or who got in the way. He certainly couldn't own it either."
Concluding her speech, Ms Midgley said: "Let Cheryl's words be heard. Let them be honoured. Let Olivia's law pass, and make sure that no victim's voice is ever shut out of justice again."
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