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13/12/01 - Never let it happen again
The parents of murdered Sarah Payne have called on the
Government to ensure other families do not suffer their
tragedy. Speaking as their daughter's killer Roy Whiting
began a life sentence for murder and kidnap yesterday,
Sara and Michael Payne said they believed justice had
been done.
But Sara Payne said she would continue to call for Sarah's
Law - similar to the US Megan's Law, which allows the
public access to details of known paedophiles. Police
fear the move would mean registered paedophiles going
underground - hampering any subsequent investigations.
The Paynes held a news conference - as they had countless
times during the police inquiry - on the steps of Lewes
Crown Court, surrounded by their family. "What
can I say?" Sara asked as she clasped her husband's
hand. "This doesn't make us happy, but justice
has been done. Sarah can rest in peace now.
"Let's make sure this stops happening time and
time again. "People are being let out of prison
when everybody concerned knows that this is going to
happen again. "Why should it be on policemen's
shoulders? This is down to the Government." Sarah's
grandfather, Brian Williams, said the Government must
listen to public opinion and make sure people like Whiting
were jailed for the rest of their lives.
He called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to take notice
of the public's views on paedophiles. Sara Payne's sister
Fiona Crook, 28, said the couple were informing their
youngest child, Charlotte, six, about the verdict. Sara's
mother Elizabeth Williams said: "(Whiting) is every
grandparent's worst nightmare.
"It's so difficult when you have young children
not to allow them a little freedom, but now I don't
know how you can do that. "There are so many of
these people out there and you don't realise how frequently
these things happen. "Paedophiles are evil men
and they destroy children's lives."
Mrs Williams added: "I don't think he will have
a very good time in prison and I'm pleased about that."
Her husband added: "Sarah's Law has got to be a
law. There has to be a law to say enough is enough.
Mr Blair should take notice of the public for once and
stay here to sort this country for us."
Mrs Payne, of Hersham, Surrey, said: "The Government
only can make this decision. "Right now, we have
got a lot of work to do and it doesn't stop here. It
just begins." She and her husband thanked the public
for their support during the months since Sarah's disappearance,
and thanked the police and the family liaison officers
who have helped them.
Mr Payne said: "They have been with us over the
last 17 months, without them we shouldn't have got through
all this." Asked what she thought when the guilty
verdicts were returned, Mrs Payne said: "I thought
of Sarah and nothing else." Mrs Payne said the
judge had a statement from a psychiatrist who had described
Roy Whiting as "a man who will continue to pose
a threat to society".
As she turned to go back into the courthouse, she was
asked what changes she hoped would come from the tragedy.
She said: "You know what change I want - Sarah's
Law." |
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