Becky Godden-Edwards' mother to meet minister in bid for law review (From Swindon Advertiser)

Becky Godden-Edwards' mother to meet minister in bid for law review

7:40pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

THE mother of murdered Becky Godden-Edwards says she was encouraged by a meeting with a Home Office minister where she lobbied for changes to the law governing police interviews.

Karen Edwards saw Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice Damien Green MP at the House of Commons late last night in a meeting arranged by South Swindon MP Robert Buckland, who is a criminal barrister.

It comes amid a campaign calling for a review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act guidelines in the wake of the murders of 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan and Becky, 29.

She said: “He’s going to have a look at PACE. He said it was a unique case with lots of grey areas. he has asked Robert Buckland to site down and set out how he thinks PACE should change.”

Last October, Christopher Halliwell, of Asbury Avenue, Nythe, was jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court after admitting Sian O’Callaghan’s murder.

But, despite also leading detectives to Becky’s body, a ruling by Mrs Justice Cox to exclude his confession as evidence in a potential trial, meant Wiltshire Police had no other evidence to link him to her killing and the second charge was withdrawn.

Karen, 52, said: “I was told David Cameron could not meet me but that I would be able to meet his right-hand man on this – apparently he rang Robert Buckland’s office to say he wanted me to meet with Damien Green.

“With the online petition stalling and the dust settling, it felt like everything was at a standstill but now things are moving again. We are not giving up.”

Mr Buckland said it was a significant opportunity in the campaign and he hoped for positive talks.

“I lobbied hard to get this meeting and Damien is the minister responsible for policing so he is the man to see,” he said. “He is a very senior, experienced minister so I will be delighted to meet with him and it will be an opportunity for Karen to express her views.

“I think we need to explore how the law can be updated and how technologies out there can help. For example to capture and record events as they happen.

“There is equipment and technology we need to harness to help modern policing and my view is this is about the interests of swift and thorough police investigation.”

To sign the online petition visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk and search for Justice For Becky, click ‘sign’ and then click the link in the verification email.

The petition is available in the town, including the Adver offices in Victoria Road and Christ Church, in Old Town.

Karen said: “I cannot believe it, I could not stop crying.”