London march in memory of murdered Slaithwaite youngster Ryan Hawkins

Apr 12 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

RELATIVES of murdered Ryan Hawkins will join other bereaved families to march on London in a bid to overhaul the justice system.

Nearly three years after the Slaithwaite four-year-old was stabbed to death by his father Christopher Hawkins, 25 of his family and friends are taking part in a campaign by Families Fighting for Justice.

They will march through the streets of the capital with hundreds of other people on May 3 to call for stiffer sentences for killers.

Ryan’s mum 43-year-old Val Gee who lives in Outlane, said: “Life should mean life.

“Hawkins got 21 years. By the time he comes out, Ryan would have been 25 – only a quarter of the way through his life.

“If they can’t hang them, they should keep them in prison for the rest of their lives.”

Hawkins, who was 47, stabbed Ryan nine times at his home on Royd Street on September 23, 2007.

Ryan’s sister Donna, who was 14 at the time, was stabbed more than 20 times in the same frenzied attack.

The incident came nine months after Ms Gee left Hawkins because of his violent behaviour.

He is thought to have carried out the attack on his children as revenge.

In March, 2008, Hawkins was jailed for at least 21 years for Ryan’s murder and for attempting to murder Donna.