A legal loophole that has meant murderers who kill their partner or ex at home face less time in prison is to be closed in a ‘long overdue’ move.
Currently, sentencing guidelines for murders depend on whether a weapon has been brought to the scene – which demonstrates the crime was committed with intent.
But in most cases of domestic murder, the weapon is most likely already at the scene, such as a knife taken from the kitchen.
As a result, the typical sentencing starting point for domestic killers is 15 years compared to 25 years in other circumstances.
Campaigners Julie Devey, Carole Gould and Elaine Newborough have spent years calling for the change through Killed Women, a group that advocates on behalf of bereaved families.
Julie’s daughter Poppy Devey Waterhouse was killed by her ex-boyfriend Joe Atkinson in 2018 after their relationship broke down. She was 24 years old.
Atkinson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years and 310 days.
Ellie Gould, Carole’s daughter, was 17 when she was stabbed to death at home by Thomas Griffiths, also 17 at the time, after she ended the relationship.
Due to his age, Griffiths got was handed life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years and six months – a more lenient sentence than an adult would have received.
Elaine’s daughter Megan Newborough, 23, was killed by her boyfriend Ross McCullam after he invited her to his home in Leicestershire. He was jailed for at least 23 years in December 2022.
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.