Sentencing Guidelines (Manslaughter)

Mark Tami Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)]

The petition is of residents of Alyn and Deeside and neighbouring areas, totalling some 3,000 persons.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Alyn and Deeside,

Declares that Peter Jones, a 24-year-old former pupil of Alun School, Mold, died in hospital following an attack by Gafyn Thomas Denman, 21, who is from the Mold area; notes that Gafyn Thomas Denman was found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed for 40 months for an unprovoked attack; further notes that, at the time of sentencing, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC explained that his hands were tied by the sentencing guidelines in cases of “one-punch” manslaughter such as this.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to review sentencing guidelines for those convicted of manslaughter so that sentences can better reflect the severity of the offence.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000905]