By Lucy Caulkett-
The Attorney General will review the sentence handed to the mother of Star Hobson, a health minister today confirmed, after saying the eight-year term handed to Frankie Smith for allowing the toddler’s death “doesn’t sound enough”.
Gillian Keegan (pictured)said the murder of the 16-month-old at the hands of the bouncer and security guard Savannah Brockhill – who was the partner of Frankie Smith- was “shocking” and “quite unbelievable”.
Ms Keegan, whose brief includes care, told LBC that it “doesn’t sound like” justice that Smith, 20, had been handed a jail term of just eight years.
She added: “It doesn’t sound enough, as a human being, it doesn’t sound enough.”
Ms Keegan said: “It’s a shocking, shocking case – I mean, it’s quite unbelievable. And also the case of poor Arthur (Labinjo-Hughes) as well. I mean, it’s just unbelievable. I mean, obviously the judge and the jury have made their… they recently passed the sentence but, you know, I guess the Attorney General has that power as well. So I don’t know…”
She added: “It doesn’t fit within my remit but it fits within hers (the Attorney General’s), so I’m sure that she’ll be having those conversations.
The killing of Star was one of the most inhumane and horrifying cases of murder in the Uk relating to a young child in recent times. The toddler was subjected to months of assaults and psychological harm have caused a national outcry, especially as the trial came so soon after the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said: “We have received a request for these sentences to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme.
“The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.”
The killing of Star was one of the most horrifying account of the murder of a child given to jurors in recent years. She was subjected to months of assaults and psychological harm , shocking the nation, especially as the trial concluded shortly after the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
The Attorney General’s office confirmed it will also review the sentence of Arthur’s stepmother, Emma Tustin, 32, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years at Coventry Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of the Solihull six-year-old’s murder.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said: “We have received a request for these sentences to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme.
“The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.”