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.

But the Families Fighting for Justice campaign believes killers like him should be locked up for life.

The pressure group was started by Liverpool woman Jean Taylor, who has seen two of her children die at the hands of others.

Mrs Taylor said Hawkins did not deserve his liberty.

“That man should never see the light of day,’’ she said.

“His child wasn’t given the chance to grow up and live his life.

“I believe that if you take someone’s life you give up the right to a life of your own.”

The march will start at London’s Embankment and go via Westminster to The Mall.

The group marching in memory of Ryan will include his sisters Donna, now 17, and Natalie, 18, and his grandmother, 71-year-old Pauline Gee.

They will all wear T-shirts showing a photograph of Ryan.

Val Gee’s twin sister, Helen Beresford, said 30 years should be the starting point for the sentence murderers should face.

She said: “We hope the message will get through.

“The Government needs to realise that we need more appropriate sentences for people who take other people’s lives.”

Linthwaite-based building company DJ McCluskey is paying for a coach to take Ryan’s family and friends to London.