Josh Hanson's mum wants new law to help victim's families after son killed at West London bar

Tracey Hanson wants the government to bring in 'Josh's Law' so victims are told they have a legal right to oppose the punishment laid down

Josh Hanson's heartbroken mum wants a new law to be brought in to make sure the victims and their families are told their rights when it comes to appealing the sentence given to an offender.

The 21-year-old from Kingsbury was murdered at RE bar in Eastcost while on a night out. His killer Shane O'Brien walked up to him, pulled out a Stanley knife and sliced his neck and chest.

Josh and O'Brien did not know each other beforehand and had only spoken for seconds before the brutal attack.

O'Brien went on the run for more than three years and was one of the most-wanted men in the world, on Met Police, Europol and Interpol's most-wanted lists,before he was caught and jailed for a minumum of 26 years 26 october 2019. 

Tracey Hanson wants the government to bring in 'Josh's Law' so victims are told during a sentencing hearing that they have a legal right to oppose the punishment laid down.

The devastated mum only found out she could appeal against O'Brien's sentence on the last day she was able to lodge an application.

Speaking exclusively to our sister site Mirror Online , Tracey said: "I found out on the 28th day that I could appeal under the 'unduly lenient scheme'.

"Why didn't anyone in the court tell me?

"I think the judge should have to tell victims of crime or their family that they can appeal against the sentence they have imposed.

"Victims deserve to be told in court they can appeal that's why I am calling for Josh's Law."

The mum-of-two's world fell apart when Josh was brutally murdered while on a night out with his girlfriend, Lucie and some other friends at the bar, where O'Brien had also been drinking.

Horrific footage shows Josh with his back to the wall as O'Brien approached and slashed him in the neck with a Stanley knife in October 2015.

O'Brien fled the UK in a private plane and travelled between Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic using fake identities and documents to avoid detection.

My London