THE mother of a Wirral woman who was murdered almost 20 years ago will present a petition at 10 Downing Street today (Thursday, January 23) calling for a change in the law.
27-year-old mum-of-three Chantel Taylor was murdered in Birkenhead by Steven Wynne on March 13 2004.
Wynne, who was thrown out of the Army for using cannabis, had been drinking and taking cocaine on the night of the killing.
As he walked home, he encountered Ms Taylor, who he knew from their days at school, and they went to his house on Elmswood Road.
Wynne claims that when Ms Taylor tried to leave, he suspected she had stolen an ounce of heroin, which he had bought to sell, and demanded it back.
Wynne then struck her in the neck with a meat cleaver.
She died almost instantly and Wynne then used a saw to dismember the body before hiding it.
Ms Taylor’s remains have never been recovered, with Wynne only being caught when he tried to torch a mosque in Birkenhead in revenge for the July 7 2005 London bombings.
Wynne was jailed for life in 2006 and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years, which was later reduced to 18 years after appeal, but has never revealed where he hid Ms Taylor's dismembered body.
Chantel's mother, Jean Taylor, is now calling for 'Chantel's Law' which is "aimed at addressing a crucial gap in the justice system for cases involving murder and the desecration of victims’ bodies".
The proposed law is looking to establish a mandatory life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years for offenders who murder and subsequently dismember or destroy the body of their victim, especially when efforts are made to conceal or prevent the recovery of the remains.
Jean, who set up the charity Families Fighting for Justice following her daughter's murder, said: "The law also guarantees that offenders who disclose the location of remains but fail to lead to their recovery—whether due to deliberate deceit or destruction of evidence—cannot manipulate the system to reduce their sentence or gain parole eligibility.
"Families of victims deserve justice, certainty, and assurance that such offenders will serve significant time for their heinous actions."
Jean will hand over the petition at 10 Downing Street at 3pm today.
She added: "This petition reflects the voices and stories of countless families who have experienced first hand the devastating impact of these gaps.
"Chantel’s Law is a campaign for reform—aiming to ensure that victims of crime, and their loved ones, receive the protection, respect, and justice they deserve.
"By delivering this petition today, we stand united with all the families who have been impacted, advocating for reforms that prioritise victims’ rights and make justice truly accessible to all."
