The Joanna Simpson Foundation issues response to Government’s announcement into homicide law review

Today, the Government credited The Joanna Simpson Foundation’s work and campaigning over the last 12 years in calling for a review into the country’s homicide laws. It comes as the Law Commission has accepted the Government’s request to undertake a review of the law of homicide and the sentencing framework for murder.

Diana Parkes CBE and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, who are co-founders of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, have campaigned for a review into homicide laws following the trial of Joanna Simpson’s killer, Robert Brown.

Diana Parkes CBE and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE said: “We welcome and accept the need for reform. However, these proposals set out today by the Secretary of State for Justice fail to go far enough. The Law Commission report that this review is based on is narrow focused and only looks at legal structures, not sentencing and procedures.

The current system is based on the 1950s, when times were much different. We believe the Government are squandering a massive opportunity to bring all of our archaic homicide laws, sentencing and procedures into the 21st century.

If the Government are intent on reform – let’s do it once to create a system for handling homicide in this country that is truly fit for the future.

The only viable path forward is to build a broad coalition of victims’ and human rights groups, and insist that the terms of reference for this once in a lifetime review covers sentencing and procedures comprehensively as well as the structure, and starts from a blank page. Together, let’s create a system that reflects the values of today’s society — one that we can truly be proud of and that delivers justice fit for the future. A failing and fragmented system cannot be bandaged. It needs cohesive and courageous reimagining.”