Children’s Minister Claire Coutinho says she thinks the UK’s worst modern day serial killer should be in court.
“I think she should be there,” she told GBNews.
“I know that the Justice Secretary has said he’s very committed to making changes to make sure that people who have committed awful crimes have to go to court so they can hear things like the victims’ impact statement, which is really their moment to tell that person how this has impacted them.
“I’m not a justice minister. But what I do know is that the Justice Secretary has talked about his commitment to me.
“I know that there’s commitment across government to making sure that people who have committed crimes are facing the reality of that so they can hear these things. And my understanding that does mean that a change of law is needed. And the Justice Secretary has said that he’s committed to looking at that.”
Coutinho also commented on the ongoing debate around the shape of the inquiry, and what form it should take, saying:
“One of the things that happens with inquiries is that we always have this debate about non-statutory and statutory.”
“I think the benefits of a statutory is that you get to compel victims and the benefits of non-statutory is often that they’re much quicker.
“And in this case, I do think that speed is of the essence, but the terms of reference haven’t been published yet.
“I know that the work that’s being done now is really the most important work which is talking to parents about what they want to see and making sure that the inquiry will cover everything that it needs to get the answers that we need in what’s been I think one of the most sickening actions that we’ve seen in recent history.”
