http://society.guardian.co.uk/lifeoutside/story/0,16008,1568953,00.htmlErwin James
"A fairer system would be one where an affected family could make a statement to the judge before the trial begins and in the absence of the jury, in the same way that legal arguments take place. In the meantime, the minister has made no mention of whether judges will be required to state what difference, if any, a victim impact statement has made on the severity of a sentence. A system of open justice requires that they should."
