Lucy Letby trial: Calls raise for legislation to force court appearance for high-profile killers

The refusal of convicted killers like Lucy Letby to attend their sentencing hearings raises calls for new legislation to ensure their presence in court and face the consequences of their actions, providing closure to victims' families. Recent cases of non-compliance spark discussions on potential legal changes.

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 19 August 2023 5:03 pm

A representation image of a court trial

Lucy Letby, a former nurse who was convicted of killing seven newborns and attempting to murder six others while working as a nurse in the neonatal care unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, has refused to turn up at the court to attend her sentencing hearing. Now demands have emerged from various corners, calling for new legislation to force convicted killers to come to the sentence hearings and face punishment.

Through her legal team, the 33-year-old nurse informed the trial judge that she would not attend court for the remainder of the proceedings. Letby also declined to appear in court after the second batch of judgments were returned on Friday, August 11, after nearly 87 hours of jury deliberation.

Reports citingMinistry of Justice sources said that the Ministry finds it is a final insult to victims and their families when criminals do not stand up in court for what they've done.

The Ministry had revealed in June that it was planning to introduce legislation to force criminals to turn up at court in order to 'face the consequences of their actions.' The other objective of such legislation was for criminals to listen to the condemnation of society in the form of the judge’s remarks.

Three other convicted killers recently declined to face their penalty in person.

Thomas Cashman, the killer of eight-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, refused to appear in court after being sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in April. Cashman, 34, had been found guilty of murdering Olivia and wounding her mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, as he chased a convicted drug dealer into their Liverpool home in August last year.

Jordan McSweeney, the killer of Zara Aleena, also refused to attend court in December last year after being sentenced to life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 38 years. His absence was described as a slap in the face by Aleena's relatives.

Koci Selamaj, the killer of Sabina Nessa, a schoolteacher, was labeled a 'coward' by her family in April last year after he refused to meet them at his sentencing hearing.
Lucy Letby joined this list as she refused to appear in court, denying the victims’ relatives the opportunity to confront the perpetrator.

Proposed legal changes may require mandatory presence during sentencing or lead to extended prison terms if criminals fail to attend. Judges could consider non-compliance as an aggravating factor, except for the gravest offenders like serial killers who face inevitable life imprisonment.