Grieving father of Grace Handling calls on laws to target killer drug dealers
The father of Grace Handling, who died after being given ecstasy, is hoping for a change in legislation.
Last updated 17th Mar 2023
The Scottish Government says it is committed to removing the ‘not proven’ verdict from law and are looking at how culpable homicide is defined.
Justice Minister Keith Brown relayed the news to North Ayrshire MSP Ruth Maguire who spoke on behalf of a father campaigning for the law changes to target killer drug dealers.
Stewart Handling’s daughter Grace lost her life in 2018 after being given ecstasy, but the man who went on trial accused of supplying her with the drug, Callum Owens, walked free after the jury returned a ‘not proven’ verdict’.
The father, who says the thoughts of his daughter dying still cause him a lot of mental distress, has been campaigning for the not proven verdict to be abolished ever since.
READ MORE: Jury urged to convict man of killing Irvine teenager by supplying Ecstasy
It’s something Mr Brown said the Scottish Government is committed to during general questions in Holyrood yesterday.
He said: “Not proven is something the government is committed to abolishing in terms of the verdict and that will come before parliament very soon.”
"Justice to future victims and their family"
However, Stewart is asking the government to go one step further and bring about laws that target drug dealers who cause fatalities by supplying.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: Culpable homicide is too broad a charge, it doesn’t address the mechanics of what’s happened to somebody to kill them, which is ultimately drugs supply.
“I didn’t think for a second that he Callum Owens would be found anything other than guilty. It was quite pitiful; I just cried my eyes out because I couldn’t wrap my head around it and just couldn’t believe that the law was so bad.
“A lot of people ask me why I am continuing to do this, they say the situation with Grace isn’t going to change.
“This hasn’t actually got a lot to do with Grace. It is about people who are alive just now who may end up like her. The hard line is that others are going to die of drug use, and there will be some of them who are supplied with lethal drugs.
“This is to give justice to the future victims and families.”
The Justice Secretary added in General questions: “I would add that the Scottish Law Commission is currently looking at how homicidal law operates more generally, and I would encourage views on how this specific area could be reassessed as part of that wider look at homicidal law, to be passed at the law commission as well.
“I’m happy once that has come back to the government, to have that discussion with the member and the individual concerned.”
MSP for Cunninghame South in North Ayrshire Ruth Maguire has been backing Stewart Handling’s campaign and proposed a private members bill to allow him to bring it to parliament.
However, there’s concerns that the issue may have to be taken to UK Parliament as it contradicts the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971, but she’s committed to helping Stewart find the right people to talk to within Westminster.