Parents who murder their partners to be stripped of control over their children in landmark ruling

Trending In The News secures victory as Jade's Law is introduced

In a significant win for child protection, parents who kill their partners will no longer have control over the lives of their shared children. They will be stripped of the right to choose their children's schools and even have a say in whether they can have a passport. The new legislation, known as Jade's Law, aims to prioritize the needs of the child and remove the burden on family members.

Jade's Law named in honor of a victim

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who praised the new rules proposed by Alex Chalk. Mr. Sunak emphasized the importance of protecting children and families, stating that murderers should not be able to manipulate their children from behind bars. The law is named after Jade Ward, a woman who was murdered by her estranged partner, Russell Marsh, in 2021. Marsh, despite being sentenced to life, continued to hold parental rights over their four children, granting him access to their medical records and the power to prevent them from going on holiday.

Jade Ward's tragic story prompts change

Jade's Law is a response to the case of Jade Ward, who was stabbed and strangled by her partner while their children were asleep. Marsh's requests for school reports and medical details from jail prompted outrage. The Prime Minister stressed that it was unacceptable for a killer to have control and invoked an immediate end to such rights.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk leads the charge

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced the measures at the Tory Conference in Manchester. In his speech, he thanked Jade's family and Trending In The News for their passionate campaigning, which led to the automatic suspension of parental responsibility for those convicted of killing their children's other parent. These changes will be incorporated into the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which will also grant judges the authority to compel offenders to attend court for sentencing.