Guidelines issued on victim impact statements

A SUPPORT group for families bereaved by homicide has issued guidelines for relatives giving victim impact statements in court.

Pitfalls and legal difficulties in writing statements as well as what families should say in court about a loved one who was killed are included in the recommendations for those affected by homicide.

The guide for victim impact statements comes after legislation introduced earlier this year which formalised the right of relatives to speak in court about their lost loved ones before sentencing is decided.