Dominic Raab has been urged to fast-track plans to force criminals to attend their sentencing after the murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel refused to leave his cell to be sentenced on Monday. The aunt of Zara Aleena, who was murdered while walking home in June 2022, said allowing convicted criminals to avoid facing the court meant the “convict actually exercises their bit of power”.
Aleena, a 35-year-old aspiring lawyer, was sexually assaulted and murdered by the serial offender Jordan McSweeney, who also refused to attend court for sentencing. Aleena’s aunt Farah Naz told BBC Breakfast criminals should have their sentence extended if they refused to face victims or their families. Source