Latest news with #ZaraAleena
ITV News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Sister of Sabina Nessa welcomes plans to punish criminals who avoid sentencing
The sister of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa said plans to punish criminals who avoid sentencing were a step in right direction. Tougher sanctions are being proposed in England and Wales which include more jail time or loss of privileges in prison. The families of Sabina Nessa and law graduate Zara Aleena are among those to have campaigned for change after their loved ones' killers were absent from sentencing hearings. Speaking to ITV News London, Sabina's sister Jebina Islam said it was important criminals were present, adding: "We thought he took the cowardly route out - we wanted him to hear our victim impact statement and what affect he had on us as a family. "When he didn't come to court [for sentencing] I was shocked. "I wanted him to hear what he had done to us - I wanted him to look at us and look me in the eye when I was reading the impact statement to tell him how much he has hurt me and my family and he's left a big hole in all of our hearts." Plans for tougher sanctions in England and Wales are among the measures in the Government's Victims and Courts Bill to be introduced to Parliament on Wednesday. Under the new legislation, judges will be given the power to sentence offenders for up to two more years in prison. For those who already face lengthy imprisonment or whole life orders, judges could also impose a range of prison punishments on offenders such as confinement to their cells and being stripped of privileges such as extra gym time. "I think it [the Bill] is a step in the right direction, it's a really good positive step that victims' families voices are being heard and being valued as well and listened to by parliament," Jebina Islam said. "I think with violence against young women and girls we are going through an epidemic. "We need more education for young children at school so they have an understanding of what's wrong and right," she added. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing. "Justice isn't optional – we'll make sure criminals face their victims." Family 'heartbroken' after body found in River Thames confirmed to be schoolgirl The Bill also plans to restrict parental responsibility from child sex offenders who committed serious crimes against their own child to boost protection for victims. The move will stop them being able to ask for updates on their child's schooling or trying to interfere in their life. Meanwhile, the Victims' Commissioner will be required to produce an independent report on whether agencies are meeting their statutory duty over the Victim's Code, in a bid to further hold the Government to account. Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said: "These important and welcome reforms give the Victims' Commissioner the statutory powers needed to deliver on the role's promise: championing victims' rights, scrutinising compliance with the Victims' Code, holding agencies to account, and spotlighting the true victim experience to drive meaningful change. "Crucially, it introduces much-needed oversight and accountability to how agencies respond to anti-social behaviour – an area where victims have too often felt unheard and unsupported."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Criminals who skip sentencing could face two more years in jail under new bill
Criminals who refuse to attend sentencing in England and Wales could face an additional two years in prison, under a new bill to be introduced to Parliament on Wednesday. Additional powers for judges to punish offenders absent from sentencing will mean they cannot "opt out" of justice, victims' families have said. "It is not about punishment through force - but about ensuring that perpetrators cannot remove themselves from the consequences of their actions," said the families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Jan Mustafa. All of their loved ones' killers did not attend their sentencing hearings, prompting calls to change the law. The bill will only become law once it has been approved by MPs and the House of Lords. Powers already exist to compel people to attend court but they are often not used. New measures under the Victims and Courts Bill could apply to any case in the Crown Court, including those who attend proceedings but are removed from court for disruptive behaviour - like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. Offenders already facing whole life orders could be confined to their cells and be stripped of privileges, like extra gym time, under the new bill. In a joint statement, the victims' families said the development was a "step in the right direction, and that new punishments indicated "this change is being taken seriously". "It gives families a moment of recognition and a form of reparation. It is a moment of reckoning for the convicted," they added. In January, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to follow through on the legislation - initiated by the previous Conservative government - after meeting Cheryl Korbel. Her daughter, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was shot dead in her home in August 2022, aged nine. Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia, did not attend court to be jailed for 42 years. Anneliese Midgley, Ms Korbel's MP, said: "This law is down in no small part to my constituent Cheryl Korbel. I am so proud of her." "Sentencing is not just a legal formality; it is the culmination of justice. That's why it's so important that justice is not only done, but seen to be done." Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing." "Justice isn't optional - we'll make sure criminals face their victims," she added.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Criminals who skip sentencing could face two more years in jail
Criminals who skip sentencing could face two more years in jail under new bill Jebina Yasmin Islam (right) has campaigned for changes to the law, after the killer of her sister Sabina Nessa refused to attend sentencing All of their loved ones' killers did not attend their sentencing hearings, prompting calls to change the law. "It is not about punishment through force - but about ensuring that perpetrators cannot remove themselves from the consequences of their actions," said the families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Jan Mustafa. Additional powers for judges to punish offenders absent from sentencing will mean they cannot "opt out" of justice, victims' families have said. Criminals who refuse to attend sentencing in England and Wales could face an additional two years in prison, under a new bill to be introduced to Parliament on Wednesday. The bill will only become law once it has been approved by MPs and the House of Lords. Powers already exist to compel people to attend court but they are often not used. New measures under the Victims and Courts Bill could apply to any case in the Crown Court, including those who attend proceedings but are removed from court for disruptive behaviour - like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. Offenders already facing whole life orders could be confined to their cells and be stripped of privileges, like extra gym time, under the new bill. In a joint statement, the victims' families said the development was a "step in the right direction, and that new punishments indicated "this change is being taken seriously". "It gives families a moment of recognition and a form of reparation. It is a moment of reckoning for the convicted," they added. In January, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to follow through on the legislation - initiated by the previous Conservative government - after meeting Cheryl Korbel. Her daughter, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was shot dead in her home in August 2022, aged nine. Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia, did not attend court to be jailed for 42 years. Anneliese Midgley, Ms Korbel's MP, said: "This law is down in no small part to my constituent Cheryl Korbel. I am so proud of her." "Sentencing is not just a legal formality; it is the culmination of justice. That's why it's so important that justice is not only done, but seen to be done." Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing." "Justice isn't optional - we'll make sure criminals face their victims," she added.
Sky News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
More jail time for criminals who refuse to attend sentencing hearings
Criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings will face further punishment under a new law. The government is introducing the Victims and Courts Bill to parliament today, which will include more jail time or loss of privileges in prison in England and Wales for criminals who refuse to attend court for sentencing. Several high-profile offenders have refused to face victims' families, sparking a public outcry and calls for a change in the law. The families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Jan Mustafa have all campaigned for the change after their killers were absent from sentencing hearings. Ms Nessa's sister, Jebina Islam, Ms Aleena's aunt, Farah Naz, and Ms Mustafa's cousin, Ayse Hussein, said: "This move holds offenders to account. "It sends a clear and necessary message: the justice system is not something you should be able to opt out of. "It is not about punishment through force - but about ensuring that perpetrators cannot remove themselves from the consequences of their actions." They said the legislation is a "step in the right direction" and the proposed punishments indicate it is "being taken seriously". The trio added: "This change supports victims and society alike. It shows justice being done. "It gives families a moment of recognition and a form of reparation. It is a moment of reckoning for the convicted." Under the new legislation, judges will be able to sentence offenders for up to two more years in prison for avoiding justice. Those already facing lengthy imprisonment or whole life orders could have a range of prison punishments, such as confinement to their cells and being stripped of privileges, such as extra gym time. Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak had pledged to change the law after meeting the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Sir Keir Starmer promised to enact it. Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia as he chased a drug dealer who had run into her Liverpool home, did not appear in court to hear his life sentence in April 2023. Earlier this year, triple crossbow and knife killer Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing when he received a whole life order. Southport child murderer Axel Rudakubana was removed from his sentencing hearing for repeatedly shouting in January. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing. "Justice isn't optional - we'll make sure criminals face their victims." The bill also says it will restrict parental responsibility from child sex offenders who commit serious crimes against their own children. The powers of the Victims' Commissioner will also be strengthened to require them to produce an independent report on whether agencies are meeting their statutory duty over the Victim's Code to hold the government to account. Child protection charity the NSPCC backed the move, saying they hope it will improve how young victims and survivors are treated, but said it was "not a complete solution".
