Offenders who murder a current or ex-partner will face a minimum of 25 years in prison under plans announced on Monday by the justice secretary, David Lammy – an increase of 10 years that closes a legal loophole campaigners have called a “long overdue” injustice.
The change comes after a seven‑year campaign by three mothers whose daughters were killed by former boyfriends. Under current law, most domestic murders carry a 15‑year sentencing starting point because the weapon – often a kitchen knife – is already at the scene. By contrast, murders where a weapon is taken to the scene with intent start at 25 years.
“Domestic murderers face 25-year minimum sentence after seven-year campaign by mothers of victims.”
“For centuries, the law failed to protect women from violence at the hands of their partner,” Lammy said. “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.”
Carole Gould’s daughter Ellie, a 17‑year‑old sixth‑form student, was stabbed to death at home by her ex‑boyfriend Thomas Griffiths on 3 May 2019. Griffiths was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 12 years and six months – a more lenient sentence because of his age. Julie Devey’s daughter Poppy Devey‑Waterhouse, a 24‑year‑old quantitative trading analyst, was murdered by her ex‑boyfriend Joe Atkinson on 14 December 2018. Atkinson received life with a minimum of 15 years and 310 days. Elaine Newborough’s daughter Megan, 23, was killed by her boyfriend Ross McCullam on 6 August 2021; McCullam was jailed for at least 23 years in December 2022.
In a statement issued through the charity Killed Women, the three mothers thanked Lammy, saying: “At last, women’s lives are being valued as highly as men’s. Since around 70% of victims of homicide in the home are women, it has long been unjust that those who murder them routinely receive substantially lighter sentences simply because the murder weapon, such as a kitchen knife, was already there, rather than brought to the scene.”
The change, which is subject to consultation with the sentencing council, was welcomed by the campaigners as “finally aligning the starting point for murders committed in the home with those committed in the street”.
The Guardian’s killed women count campaign recorded 80 women killed in the UK in 2024.