The grandmother of a man who was murdered has lambasted Labour's plans for sentencing "sanctions" on those who refuse to face court for sentencing - branding the move a "waste of time".Julie Taylor, whose grandson Leon Taylor was killed in a brutal attack outside a pub in Writtle in Essex in 2020, has condemned the new legislation, which will reduce "privileges" for prisoners.FULL STORY HERE.
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00:00So, Judy, two points.
00:01First of all, you mentioned there about they must be almost forced to face the music.
00:06Lucy Letby, the crossbow killer, Axel Ridicabana, you know, kicking off in court,
00:12denying the families their moment to face their perpetrator.
00:16To read out the impact statement, the impact it's had on them.
00:19First of all, do you think they should be forced to get into that dock by any means necessary?
00:24Yes, I do. I do think they should be dragged up there.
00:26You know, put a pair of handcuffs up and pull them up the stairs.
00:28Because they have to at least acknowledge what they've done, whether they like it or not.
00:33They don't want to face the victims' families. Of course they don't.
00:36But they should have thought about that before they did these horrendous HDS crimes.
00:40And, Judy, you've looked into the eyes of the abyss, literally.
00:44You've met with killers, the precise kind of...
00:49I don't know what word to use.
00:50The kind of people that took your beautiful grandson's life.
00:53Do you think it would have any impact whatsoever to say,
00:55Oh, by the way, if you don't go in court, you might lose a few weeks' gym time?
00:59No. They'll laugh. They'll find it hilarious.
01:02I'm laughing at it. It is a joke.
01:04You know, if you've got 20 years in there, you're not going to worry about six weeks,
01:07no telly or no gym or three weeks or what.
01:09It's, you know, if you've got murder on there, then perhaps we need to start saying,
01:14right, life for life, 20 years plus, you know, let's put these extra sentences on
01:19and make them think, oh, actually, I don't want to have that sentence.
01:22I'm not going to do this now.
01:23You know, there's not any deterrent.
01:26It's not enough.
01:27And, Judy, if people are facing long prison terms, 20 years plus, perhaps a full life term,
01:34what difference would it make if they're threatened with an extra couple of years on top
01:38for not facing the music?
01:40None at all. Absolutely none at all.
01:42None at all.
01:43They'll laugh.
01:44This will not affect anybody.
01:47I don't think anybody will be worried about this.
01:50It's just a waste of time.
01:52Judy, do you think there's a huge disconnect between the lawmakers and the lawbreakers?
02:00The lawbreakers don't seem to give them monkeys about these kind of...
02:03Token gestures.
02:05No, they don't.
02:07You know, there's a mindset out there and a few people that, you know,
02:11I do what I want, what I want, and if I get caught, I get caught.
02:13That seems to be the minority's mindset.
02:15And it's really sad, and that's why we've got to sort of educate these children
02:19as young as we can, seven, eight years old, you know, just talk to them in schools,
02:23just constantly talk to them, warn them of the dangers, warn them of, you know,
02:26it's not just somebody's life you take, it's your life that's messed up,
02:29it's your family's.
02:30And, you know, make them realise that it has to stop.
02:34Because, like I said, five and a half years later and it's got worse,
02:37it hasn't got any better.
02:38I would love to sit in and say, well, the last year has got better and better,
02:40but it hasn't.
02:43Well, Judy Taylor, you're a woman on a mission.
02:46Every time I speak with you, I get very, very close to tears.
02:50How are you doing?
02:54Lynne would be 25 next week, so it's the sixth birthday we've lost.
02:58So it's not a good time at the moment, but I'm keeping very busy and doing as much
03:02as I possibly can, you know, just trying to stop this happening to anyone else.
03:08Like I said, it doesn't get easier, it gets harder.
03:09Well, Judy Taylor, as ever, you know, I'm very sorry for your loss.
03:16Those are empty words, but I truly mean it.
03:18I think millions of our viewers are right on your side.
03:21Thank you for the work you do, and please keep fighting on.
03:26It's a pleasure to have you on the show.
03:27Thank you very much.
03:28Thank you, Martin.
03:29Take care.
03:29Thanks, Tony.