‘Imagine this was your daughter’: how grieving mothers campaigned to close sentencing gap

The Guardian UK Wednesday 01 July 2026, 05:00 UTC By Alexandra Topping, Political correspondent 1 min read

Key Points

David Lammy’s decision to increase minimum sentence for domestic murder victims follows years of tireless lobbyingDavid Lammy had gone quiet. Sitting in his ministerial office in the Palace of Westminster, the justice secretary had just been presented with pictures of women killed by their partners in their own homes, by their grieving mothers.

David Lammy’s decision to increase minimum sentence for domestic murder victims follows years of tireless lobbying

David Lammy had gone quiet. Sitting in his ministerial office in the Palace of Westminster, the justice secretary had just been presented with pictures of women killed by their partners in their own homes, by their grieving mothers.

As she put the photographs in front of him, Carole Gould explained that her 17-year-old daughter, Ellie, was killed by fellow sixth-former Thomas Griffiths the day after she ended their relationship in 2019. Julie Devey, who was joining the call remotely, showed a photograph of her daughter, Poppy Devey Waterhouse, who was 24 when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Joe Atkinson, on 14 December 2018.

David Lammy’s (PERSON) Lammy (PERSON) the Palace of Westminster (LOCATION) Carole Gould (PERSON) Ellie (PERSON) Thomas Griffiths (PERSON) Julie Devey (PERSON) Poppy Devey Waterhouse (ORG) Joe Atkinson (PERSON)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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‘Imagine this was your daughter’: how grieving mothers campaigned to close sentencing gap

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