The domestic violence minister will be coming to Norwich to find out more about the case of murdered Norwich mum Kerri McAuley.
Kerri McAuley, 32, suffered 19 separate injuries to her head and face following a 'sustained and brutal' attack by serial abuser Joe Storey who then left her to die alone in her home in January this year.
Chloe Smith, Norwich North MP, has been working to see if more can be done to tackle the problem of domestic violence, including changes to the law to target violent offenders.
Ms Smith has met with Victoria Atkins MP, the Home Office Minister for domestic abuse, who is s preparing a new Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill that will strengthen the tools available to beat this repulsive crime.
And following their meeting at Westminster the minister has agreed to come to Norwich in January to find out more about Ms McAuley's story and meet the key people who have expertise in the fight against domestic abuse.
Ms Smith said: 'This was a very helpful meeting where the new Minister understood the tragedy of Kerri's case, and was keen to use lessons from her murder to improve the law. It is a tribute to local campaigners including Kerri's family that she will come to hear from experience in Norwich.
'As a constituency MP, it is incredibly important to be able to use local examples to make the laws of this land better. I'd like this work to help change the law so that evil people like Joe Storey can be stopped in the future. I am grateful to Kerri's family for their courage in sharing her story, and I hope we can achieve something together so that Kerri did not die in vain. It is good that the government is taking action and I am looking forward to supporting the new Bill in Parliament.'
The city MP will be meeting Kerri's family in Norwich this week and showing her support for the EDP/Norwich Evening News Christmas campaign for Leeway in Kerri's memory.
We have launched to raise £10,000 for abuse charity Leeway so they can kit out a domestic violence refuge in Ms McAuley's memory .
To donate visit the Kerri's Campaign JustGiving page or alternatively send cheques, made payable to Archant Community Media Ltd, to Sandra Mackay at Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE.
Alternatively, those wanting to donate can send cheques, made payable to Archant Community Media Ltd, to Sandra Mackay at Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE.
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