Murderers and other criminals in England and Wales who refuse to appear in court for sentencing could be given longer jail terms under plans unveiled by the government.
Earlier this month a judge criticised Donald Robertson for not having the “courage” to attend any of his trial for the 1987 murder of Shani Warren, and in April Koci Selamaj was lambasted by the family of Sabina Nessa—who he murdered in a park in Kidbrooke, south London, in September 2021—after he refused to leave his cell at Belmarsh Prison to attend his sentencing at the Old Bailey.
The judge who sentenced Selamaj, Mr. Justice Nigel Sweeney, called him a “coward,” but said he had no powers to force him to appear in court….