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Jane’s Law gets House of Lords backing
Jane Clough
PEERS today backed the introduction of the Justice for Jane campaign by the family of murdered Blackpool nurse Jane Clough.
The Government moved to amend the law on bail after Jane Clough, 26, was stabbed to death by her ex-partner Jonathan Vass in July 2010 while he was on bail accused of raping her.
The amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill creates a right of appeal against the grant of bail by a crown court.
The Gazette-backed campaign was supported, without a vote, by all sides of the Lords after peers heard that Jane’s parents, Penny and John, who campaigned for the change, were present in the House.
Deputy Lords leader Lord McNally said peers were effectively approving “Jane’s law”.
Click here to read all of our Justice for Jane campaign stories.
The change was signalled last month by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said there was a strong case for changing the law.
Ms Clough’s parents said then they were “delighted” by the decision.
Mr Clough said: “It’s time a defendant’s right to freedom was superseded by the victim’s right to safety. That’s all we’re asking for.”
For the Opposition, Lord Beecham said that if peers were given to standing ovations they would have given one to Ms Clough’s parents for their efforts to get the law changed.
He said every so often “tragic incidents” led to legal changes and the “brutal murder” of Jane Clough was one such occasion.
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE FRIDAY’S GAZETTE
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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