By Yesterday we reported how the Queens Speech on Monday included a bill forming ‘Helen’s Law’ – further sanctions for murderers who do not disclose where their victims’ bodies are.
This new legislation could see offenders not being released until the whereabouts are know following the successful campaign of Marie McCourt.
Her daughter, Helen, was murdered on her way home from work over 30 years ago, and her killer Ian Simms, has never given the police the location of her remains.
Now, in a further cruel twist of fate, it is feared that Simms may be released from prison before the bill becomes law.
The bill is expected to become law in 2020 at which time parole boards will be asked to consider the killers refusal to provide location details when determining a release.
Paedophiles who refuse to disclose children’s identity in images they have taken are also to be held to the scrutiny of the new law.
Unfortunately for Helen’s mother, Marie, Simms parole board hearing is imminent.
It will also apply to paedophiles who take indecent images of children but refuse to disclose their identity, “and could therefore see them locked away for longer”, the Ministry of Justice has said.
It is expected to become law in spring 2020.
Helen McCourt’s killer Ian Simms is shortly due to be considered for parole.
Marie has urged the public to raise this with their local MPs to voice concern over this and to possibly expediate the bill if possible. Her own Labour MP, Conor McGinn agrees that Simms should remain in jail until he discloses the location of Helen.
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