Perpetrators who commit murder against their partners or former partners will now face an additional 10-year prison sentence with the closure of a sentencing loophole deemed “outdated and misogynistic.”
In a move that has been welcomed by grieving mothers, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has confirmed that individuals who commit domestic homicides must receive a minimum 25-year prison term. This revision, set to be officially announced on Tuesday, will replace criticized sentencing regulations that differentiate between homicides occurring inside and outside the home.
This change comes after a prolonged advocacy effort by three bereaved mothers whose daughters were tragically killed by violent ex-partners within homes. Carole Gould, Julie Devey, and Elaine Newborough expressed that this update signifies a recognition of the equal value of women’s lives compared to men’s.
Under the existing laws, most domestic murders have a baseline 15-year sentencing due to their occurrence within a home. However, murders involving the use of a weapon carried a mandatory 25-year sentence.
Advocates have persistently called for the elimination of this disparity. Mr. Lammy, also serving as the Justice Secretary, stated, “The legal system has historically failed to shield women from violence perpetrated by their partners, whether through marital rape or domestic abuse. While significant strides have been made, there is a need to rectify past injustices.
“This amendment addresses a long-overdue gap and ensures that individuals who murder their partners receive sentences that more accurately reflect the profound harm they inflict.”
Praising Carole, Julie, and Elaine, the founders of the advocacy group Killed Women, Mr. Lammy acknowledged their relentless efforts to seek justice for their daughters. Carole’s daughter, Ellie, was fatally attacked at the age of 17 by Thomas Griffiths in her residence in Calne, Wiltshire, following the end of their relationship.
Julie’s daughter, Poppy Devey Waterhouse, aged 24, was murdered in her Leeds apartment by Joe Atkinson in 2018 after their three-year relationship ended. Atkinson was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 310 days.
Elaine’s daughter, Meghan, was strangled and had her throat cut by Ross McCullam at his residence in Leicestershire, leading to a minimum 23-year sentence in 2023.
In a joint statement, the three mothers declared, “Finally, women’s lives are being valued equally to men’s. Around 70% of victims of domestic homicides are women, making it unjust that perpetrators receive significantly lighter sentences merely because the murder weapon was already present, such as a kitchen knife, rather than brought to the scene.
“For seven years, we have tirelessly advocated to alert authorities to the danger posed by these individuals. We have lost our daughters – Poppy, Ellie, and Megan – to such individuals.
“Anyone capable of committing such extreme violence against someone they once loved, often the mother of their children, poses a significant threat, not just to other women but to society as a whole.”
Continuing their statement, they added, “Over the course of seven years, we have engaged with seven Lord Chancellors, each expressing sympathy, but it is the current Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, who has finally taken the right step.”
In 2024, the Killed Women group initiated a ‘killed here’ campaign, installing blue plaques at locations where women were murdered in their homes. At the time, they emphasized, “Killed Women’s Black & Blue Plaques: ‘Killed Here’ campaign urges the new Labour Government to uphold the commitment to reform the outdated and misogynistic domestic homicide sentencing laws established by the Conservatives, in support of slain women and their families.”
Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, remarked, “For too long, perpetrators who commit fatal acts of abuse have not faced appropriate consequences matching the seriousness of their crimes. This positive change is a testament to all the families who have tirelessly fought for justice for their loved ones. I am pleased to see provisions made to ensure that victims who act in self-defense following prolonged abuse do not receive harsher sentences.
“However, I am disappointed that this increase does not extend to cases where a victim is killed by a family member. The act remains equally abhorrent when a parent is killed by their child or in cases of so-called ‘honour’ based abuse within the family.
“I urge the government to ensure equitable sentencing across all forms of domestic homicides. Addressing the crisis of domestic abuse and gender-based violence requires comprehensive measures, not half-hearted efforts.”
