Rape and murder of child led to Megan’s Law

MEGAN’S Law was first launched in the US following the death of seven-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed by a convicted paedophile in New Jersey in 1994.

Her murderer, Jesse Timmendequas, had two previous convictions for sexual offences against children — crimes which his neighbours, including Megan’s family, knew nothing about.

The huge public outcry that followed her death spawned a raft of legislation, signed by President Bill Clinton, and adopted across 50 states.