Overview

• The Victims and Courts Bill, including Olivia’s Law, has progressed to the committee stage following its second reading in the House of Commons.
• Olivia’s Law seeks to close a legal loophole by enabling judges to mandate attendance at sentencing hearings and impose penalties for refusal, such as additional prison time or loss of privileges.
• The legislation was driven by Cheryl Korbel, whose daughter Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed in 2022, and whose killer, Thomas Cashman, refused to attend his sentencing hearing.
• Cheryl Korbel and her family attended the parliamentary session, emphasizing the law’s importance for other families affected by similar injustices.
• Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley highlighted the law as Olivia’s legacy, aiming to ensure accountability and justice for victims and their families.