MPs express fury after it emerged that Lucy Letby was refusing to return to the dock for sentencing
A law to force offenders to attend their sentencing is to be included in the King’s Speech and laid in Parliament by the end of this year, amid anger over Lucy Letby’s refusal to return to court on Monday.
Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, has said that he is “committed” to bringing forward legislation designed to prevent convicted criminals from refusing to appear in court when the details of their sentence are announced.
The Telegraph understands that Rishi Sunak is planning to include the measure in the King’s Speech on Nov 7 and to lay it in Parliament by Christmas. MPs have expressed fury after it emerged that Letby was refusing to return to her seat in the dock for the remainder of the proceedings, which will end on Monday with her sentencing.
Mr Sunak has championed the proposals to force criminals to attend their sentencing, having pledged during his leadership campaign last year that he would “do everything possible to make sure victims have the chance to look their perpetrator in the eye and witness justice being served”.