WARRINGTON teenager Amy Newlove, who saw her father brutally kicked to death by teenage thugs outside the family home, has pleaded with the Prime Minister to be tougher on criminals.
During a live radio debate in Manchester Amy 14, told Gordon Brown that her father, Garry Newlove, (pictured) would have been celebrating his 50th birthday yesterday but for the incident which led to his death two years ago.
She accused the Prime Minister of letting victim’s families down, asking: “Why is it that the people who murdered my father have been given life sentence but they will only serve a minimum tariff?
“As a prime minister, and also father yourself, isn’t it about time that you made sure the laws and sentences were tougher and meant what they said?”
Amy was accompanied by her mother Helen at the Manchester Art Gallery event.
The Prime Minister told Amy he couldn’t tell judges what sentences to impose but said new powers had been brought in so criminals could be held for longer than their original jail terms
The murder of father of three Garry Newlove in August 2007 led to a national debate on teenage violence and binge-drinking.
Amy, who was 12 at the time, witnessed the attack. She fought back tears as she spoke to the Prime Minister during a question-and-answer session with a live audience in Manchester.
She said :”Every day I cry all day. It is hard for me as I was only 12 when I witnessed my dad’s murder. It hurts me to see my family go through that,” she said.
‘”Isn’t it about time you made sure the law and sentences were a lot tougher?”
Mr Brown said her father, who was set upon as he challenged a gang of rowdy youths outside the family home, was a brave and courageous man and claimed sentences had been tougher under Labour.
He said: “We, the Government, don’t tell judges what sentence to impose but we have given judges the power and courts the power to have indefinite sentences so people can be in prison indefinitely.
“I know your father was a very brave man and nothing can bring him back.”
Adam Swellings, 19, from Crewe, was jailed for life for the murder of Mr Newlove, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 17 years.
Stephen Sorton, 17, was also given life with a minimum 15 years and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, sentenced to life with a minimum 12 years.
Murder victim's daughter pleads with Prime Minister to be tougher on crime
11 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
1 Comment
I lost my wife back in 1988. She was killed by a well known psycho with a record as long as your arm and he had been released early from another violent assault. The government then used to bang on about how good their record on crime was and how tough they were on offenders……. fast forward 21 years and things are even worse now than ever. We have the country being run by namby pamby toga wearing softies who all seem to think that these violent criminal scum deserve a second, third or even fourth chance. They don’t….. in the abscence of the death penalty (which is an absolute shame) they should be locked up for life. No parole, nothing to “look forward to” (as they took that from their victims and their families) For heavens sake, stop listening to the do-gooders that are now in power; they have been here for 12 long years and things are worse than ever (regardless of how they try and fudge the figures) We need zero tolerance on crime from Police forces that aren’t worried about targets and worried about gay rights and how many one legged black lesbians they employ. The thugs in this country are laughing every day because regardless of what they get up to; some softie will always be on their side and see them as a victim. To Amy and her family I would say that the pain does decrease but the loss never does and unfortunately the man who killed my wife was released after 11 years and went off and killed again….. lets hope the powers that be don’t let that happen to swellings and the other scum that killed your dad. Baz