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Family of murdered mum shocked by new law delay

Sarah EasedaleBBC Wales
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More than 130,000 people signed a petition to change the law on parental rights

A new law, aimed at stripping someone who kills an ex-partner of parental rights over their children has still not been implemented - 18 months after being passed in Parliament.

Jade's Law was campaigned for by the family of Jade Ward, who was 27 when she was murdered by ex-partner Russell Marsh in 2021.

Her parents called for the change after Marsh started asking for pictures and school reports from prison and they said they were "shocked and upset" by the delay in bringing about the change in the law.

The Ministry of Justice said it was "committed to implementing Jade's Law as swiftly and safely as possible".

Jade's mother Karen Robinson said the family were devastated to find Marsh still had parental rights and it broke her heart that families were still enduring what Jade's Law was meant to stop.

"We all worked so hard, mentally, emotionally," she said of the campaign.

"We were so proud... of everyone. I thought no other family will have to go through what we've had to do."

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Jade's family and friends took their campaign to Westminster in June 2022 and last May Jade's Law was passed

Jade, from Shotton, Flintshire, was stabbed and strangled by Marsh as their four children slept in rooms nearby.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 and has shown "no remorse," said Paul Ward, Jade's father.

Mr Ward felt Marsh was trying to "get one over on the family" by trying to get involved in the children's lives.

Along with other family and friends, they began a campaign to strip Marsh of his parental rights and suspend the rights of all parents who kill someone they have children with.

They were successful and, in May 2024, section 18 of the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024 - Jade's Law - was one of the last to be passed before the general election.

At the time, the UK government said the law would protect children by preventing killers from unduly influencing their lives.

The rule applies to anyone convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of someone they share parental responsibilities with, with an exemption in cases where domestic abuse victims kill their abusers.

But Jade's family were shocked to learn that the law remains dormant and is not yet being used to protect victims' families.

A man and a woman sit next to each other on a brown sofa with grey wall paper showing a tree pattern behind. Both are middle aged. The man is wearing a red baseball cap and has a moustache and a nose-ring. He is wearing white shirt with a blue-grey tie, tucked inside his shirt. The woman has shoulder length reddish-brown hair and has glasses on top of her head. She is wearing a grey and green short sleeved top and has tatoos on her forearms. Both are looking directly at the camera.
Paul Ward and Karen Robinson say they thought Jade's Law was already helping families like theirs

Ms Robinson said they had been under the impression the law had been working to protect families since it was passed.

The discovery there remained more administrative hurdles has left her feeling "really disappointed".

Mr Ward said he was "shocked and upset" to learn about the delay.

Family friend and campaigner Edwin Duggan wrote the framework for Jade's Law, and continues to work with a charity which supports children who have a parent in jail.

He said he was "distraught and angry" after one family recently told him they had not been able to apply Jade's Law because the statutory instruments that would have to be put into place currently prevent the courts from using it.

Mr Duggan has written an open letter to the justice secretary, hoping to "kick" the process "in the right direction".

"The more signatures that I can raise on the open letter, it adds more weight to what I'm trying to say to David Lammy," he said.

"It's just to wake them up a little bit and to say, we are still here as a family, as a community, and we will not let things rest until it's implemented properly."

Family handout A young woman with long dark brown hair and brown eyes in a selfie picture. She is looking off to the side of the frame and is wearing a snakeskin patterned jumper and pink lipstick. Family handout
Jade Ward's family said she was "kind, beautiful, funny, caring"

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said its "deepest sympathies" were with the families of victims and it was "committed to implementing Jade's Law as swiftly and safely as possible so that families are protected from further trauma".

It added it was "working with partners" including local authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service so the best system for the change could be put in place.

Four-and-a-half years after her death, Jade's parents said they just wanted the law they fought for in their daughter's name to do its job.

"We don't want to be doing this anymore," said Mr Ward.

"We're tired. We just want Jade to rest."

"It brings up the really bad memories," added Ms Robinson.

"We just need it to be over so we can move on and get a bit of peace, because we haven't really yet."

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