Where’s the justice for Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family if killers hide in cells?
THE courage of the woman whose evidence put Thomas Cashman behind bars is immeasurable.
Subjected to death threats from his gang cronies, she now faces a virtual imprisonment of her own — living under a new identity in witness protection, unable to see family and no doubt looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life.
This admirable act of sacrifice is in complete contrast to the cowardly behaviour of killer Cashman who, instead of facing the mother of his nine-year-old victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel in court, chose to stay in his holding cell because he felt that the proceedings were “turning into a circus”.
Why the hell wasn’t he dragged there by his arm-pits? Your guess is as good as mine.
But fundamentally it will be because the human rights of the criminal currently trump those of the victim and their family.
Now Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab says he is committed to changing the law so offenders like Cashman can’t dodge facing the consequences of their actions.
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But how long does it take?
After all, it was 2008 when Milly Dowler killer Levi Bellfield refused to attend court for sentencing after being found guilty of murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22.
Amelie’s father, Jean-Francois, said at the time: “He was a coward in his attacks and he’s a coward today.”
No one could argue with that.
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Yet here we are, 15 years later, still seeing bereaved families treated as an irrelevance by the killers who have robbed them of their loved ones.
Jordan McSweeney was last year described by a judge as “spineless” after dodging a sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey for the murder of 35-year-old Zara Aleena, who was walking home from an East London bar.
Also last year, Koci Selamaj was branded a “coward” by Jebina Islam after he refused to attend sentencing for the murder of her sister Sabina Nessa, a 28-year-old teacher.
Selamaj ambushed Sabina in a park in South East London, beat her unconscious then is thought to have dragged her to under-growth and strangled her.
In May last year, Conservative MP James Wild issued a call for action, saying: “When defendants in murder, rape and other serious cases hide in their cells and fail to appear for sentencing, they are effectively abusing their victim and the victim’s family once again.”
Indeed they are. And now it’s happened again.
Dominic Raab says he will make sure the courts have the power to compel serious offenders to attend sentencing hearings, and will look at increasing their jail time if they don’t.
But he stopped short of saying they would be physically manhandled in to the dock.
Why on earth not? One doubts the public would object.
The only potential push-back would be from the human rights industry.
So, enough of the “could be”, “might” and “maybe” platitudes from the Government that have been uttered for years.
Change the law now and force the Cashmans of this world to face the consequences of their criminal actions.
GIVE IT A REST, MILES
THREE British men have been captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
for aid workers.
So both there for a purpose.
The third is “danger tourist” Miles Routledge.
Sorry, what?
The 23-year-old YouTuber who, according to his mum, is “finding himself after university”, posted images of himself “networking with the Talibros” earlier this year and now, after a business deal reportedly went wrong, his new mates have detained him.
Worse, he has form.
Two years ago he was also in Afghanistan after Googling “most dangerous cities to visit” and, following the fall of Kabul, had to be airlifted out by British forces.
Duh.
But back he went and now more time will have to be wasted negotiating for his release.
For the sake of his “distraught” mum, let’s hope Miles comes home safe and sound.
And for the sake of sanity, let’s hope he finally stays here, other than the occasional holiday to Lanzarote.
BOY IT’S A HARD WATCH
FORMER boxer David Haye continues to make headlines after posting about the latest addition to his “throuple” with girlfriend Sian Osborne.
Step forward – or is it lunge? – personal trainer Mica Jova, who replaces The Saturdays singer Una Healy.
David says: “I have found myself in the company of open-hearted individuals who perceive me through the lens of my daily action, rather than the societal expectations foisted upon a man of 42.”
Er, right. Each to their own and all that, particularly if it’s consenting adults.
But David’s son Cassius is now 15 and the “societal expectations” of the school playground can be very brutal indeed.
So perhaps a period of quiet, unpublicised reflection might now be advised.
GWYN HAD TO FIGHT
A LOT of people have questioned why someone as wealthy as Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t avoid a court case, and just do a backroom deal, with skier Terry Sanderson who claimed she’d crashed into him.
But if you know that you’ve done nothing wrong, why should you settle?
Writing a large cheque to rid yourself of a false claim surely flies in the face of what “justice” is supposed to be?
CAROL’S HAPPY ’N’ GLORIOUS AT 62
CAROL VORDERMAN says she now lives “without apology”.
She says and does what she wants, when she wants.
She also has five “special friends” with whom she says she enjoys no-strings attached relationships.
And quite frankly, she’s never looked happier.
She’s 62, but looks 20 years younger, and has clearly reached that glorious stage of a woman’s life when we no longer give a damn about the judgments of people we have never met.
All together now: What you think of me is none of my business.
UTTER IDIOCY
CLICHES have always had a bad rap, but now linguists claim they can be a creative way for speakers to signal their identity, agreement and group belonging.
Which, reading between the lines, means you can’t judge a book by its cover so it’s better to be safe than sorry and accept that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush because it’s a game of two halves, life isn’t a bed of roses and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
MUM ’N’ GET IT
A GROUP of mums from Manchester flew to Ibiza at 6am and returned home at 11pm in time for next day’s school run.
Sterling effort, ladies.
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I once flew to Buenos Aires for lunch then came straight back again.
Equally impressive but, as it was for work, not nearly as much fun.