I can guarantee you that the accused has more rights than the victim. When we go to court, we're allowed to read a victim impact statement. We have to keep it very brief, but then it is handed in before we actually go, if you're fortunate enough to get a trial. The accused and the defence lawyer get to read our victim impact statement before we're allowed to read it in court. If they don't like anything in there, they can ask that it be removed, as well.
We don't have any rights in court, and our loved ones don't have any rights in court. I was told by a lawyer that, basically, because my daughter was only 22—she wasn't married, and didn't have any dependants—her life in the eyes of the court was worth zero. I was told that by a lawyer. I also asked a lawyer to request a 10-year sentence because my daughter was murdered by this [Inaudible—Editor]. I was told that, basically, a judge would laugh at us, and say, “That's not going to happen.”
When I say there are no rights for victims, I mean that sincerely. I hope that will change in the future, but that's the way it currently is in our criminal justice system.