LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday signed into law a measure that will make defendants convicted of a crime to listen to victim impact statements.
"This is a good day because we've had these criminals that are causing pain, mountains of pain for people. They duck out, they're able to duck right out of the courtroom and this is going to put a stop to that," Nick Winberg told 24 Hour News 8.
The law is named for Winberg's daughter Rebekah Bletsch. It was created after the man convictedof killing her, Jeffrey Willis, was allowed to leave the courtroom before her family gave their victim impact statements at his sentencing in December 2017. As he walked out, he blew a kiss.
"You can't get more evil than that," Winberg said.
State Rep. Holly Hughes, R-Montague, sponsored the legislation to make convicts stay in the courtroom during for the statements after hearing about Willis' behavior. It earned approval from the Legislature earlier this month.
Bletsch's family testified at legislative hearings on the bill, talking about how difficult it was for them that Willis was allowed to leave. Bletsch's sister, Jessica Josephson, said it denied her part of the grieving process.
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