Zoe's family hopes for justice at last (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Zoe's family hopes for justice at last

HOME office minister Paul Goggins has given the strongest indication yet that child killer Miles Evans could have a jail tariff set by next month.

The parliamentary under secretary of state revealed the tariff-setting timetable in a letter to West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison.

Zoe's grandmother, Ann Hamilton, 58, of Westfield Road, Trowbridge, said she was delighted the end to her family's seven-year wait was in sight.

"We feel no different today than we did in 1997 when he killed her. We need to know exactly how long he will be behind bars. It will be a huge relief," she said.

Soldier Evans strangled his step-daughter and buried her body in a badger sett, just yards from the family home in Pepper Place, Warminster.

Since his conviction in 1998, the schoolgirl's family have been waiting for a tariff to be set and joined-up with the Wiltshire Times last year to launch our Justice for Zoe campaign.

Hundreds of readers responded backing the campaign and calling for Evans to serve the rest of his life behind bars.

Under new legislation a High Court judge has to set the minimum jail sentence which could be up to 50 years, known as a whole life term.

Mr Goggins said Evans would be given case papers by the end of this month with Zoe's family given the chance to detail how the crime has changed their lives in a statement. Evans will be given three months to make any responses.

Mr Goggins' letter read: "If Miles Evans decides not to make any representations the tariff decision could be made in March or April because, as you know, his is one of the earliest convictions under consideration.

"If his representations are not made until the end of the three-month period the decision is likely to be made in June or July."

Mrs Hamilton said the memories of 1997 are as vivid today as they ever were and knows she will not rest until Evans is forced to serve a whole life term.

"As far as we are concerned he is one of the worst child killers in the country. Everyone wants to know how long he will serve as Zoe's murder was national news," she said.

"When I start writing how we feel in a statement I might not be able to stop. He has ruined our lives."

Mr Goggins confirmed there would be no "undue delay" in the tariff-setting procedures with high-profile cases like the Soham murders not allowed to take precedence.

It is believed 550 killers nationwide are waiting for their tariffs to be set.