Frome mother urges government to change the law over domestic murder sentencing

The mother of Frome woman Poppy Devey Waterhouse, who was murdered in her home aged 24 by her partner, has gathered at the Houses of Parliament with a group she founded to campaign for change in UK domestic homicide sentencing laws. 

The organisation, Killed Women, gathered at parliament with black and blue plaques to highlight their message this month. 

Poppy’s mother, Julie Devey, founded the group along with  Carole Gould from Wiltshire whose daughter Ellie Gould, 17, was also murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The group also includes family members of Somerset woman Claire Tavener, 27, who was killed by her husband and tragically found by her children. 

The women’s perpetrators received a starting tariff that was significantly less than if the women had been murdered out of the home – meaning their murderers will serve less time in prison before being considered for parole. The Killed Women initiative seeks to prevent such tragedies by advocating and petitioning for stricter sentencing. 

On average in the UK, perpetrators who kill in the home using a weapon kept in the home receive a sentence with a minimum prison term (starting tariff) before being considered for parole. The sentence is around ten years less than those killed out of home, due to out-of-date laws. 

Julie Devey said, “Sentencing for women murdered in the home by a domestic weapon is unfair. Currently, murderers receive around ten years less in prison for killing in the home than they do if they kill on the street – which is insulting to the victims and their families. 

“Sadly, women being murdered by men in the home is not going to end.  Even though many murders are preventable – as the killers usually have a prior history of abuse – the final indignity is delivered in sentencing when the murderers receive an average of ten years less than for murders outside. This must stop. The minimum term must represent the crime and shouldn’t be determined by the location.  

“We want the symbolism of these plaques to raise this issue in the House of Commons.  The Government showed a refreshing approach to the riots this summer and we want this issue to be granted the same attention, in honouring the pledges made by the previous Government. While this won’t bring our loved one’s home, at the very least, families of future victims will be consoled by the knowledge that justice has been served.” 

Each bespoke plaque will include each woman’s name, their life span, and then the words;’ killed here’, the sentence given, and ‘Murder is murder, change the law.’