Offenders in England and Wales who kill current or ex-partners face 10 more years in prison

Offenders who kill their current or ex-partner face spending an extra 10 years behind bars, with a new minimum sentence of 25 years in England and Wales, under plans announced by David Lammy . The increase, announced by the justice secretary on Monday, comes after a seven-year campaign by mothers of victims for a change in the minimum sentence for domestic murder. Where a weapon is taken to the scene with intent, the starting point for murders is a 25-year sentence. But under the current law most domestic murders have a 15-year sentencing starting point, because they take place in the home with a weapon most likely already at the scene. Lammy, the deputy prime minister, said: “For centuries, the law failed to protect women from violence at the hands of their partner – whether from marital rape or from abuse behind closed doors. Whilst we’ve made significant progress, we need to continue righting these wrongs. “This change closes a long overdue gap and will ensure those who murder their partner face sentences that better reflect the devastating harm they cause. I pay tribute to Carole Gould, Julie Devey and Elaine Newborough whose courageous campaign will help future mothers, daughters and wives get the justice they deserve.” Sixth-form student Ellie Gould , 17, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Thomas Griffiths, on 3 May 2019. Quantitative trading analyst Poppy Devey-Waterhouse , 24, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Joe Atkinson, on 14 December 2018. …