A rape survivor has branded Rishi Sunak’s failure to stop victims being charged tens of thousands of pounds for vital court transcripts a “slap in the face”.
Juliana Terlizzi, 36, watched on from the Commons’ public gallery as the Prime Minister was confronted over her having been ordered to pay more than £7,000 to access transcripts of her own trial.
Her MP, Lib Dem Sarah Olney, asked the PM to back a proposal to give all victims the right to read sentencing remarks and summings-up free of charge. But Mr Sunak failed to back the change in the law and said a one-year pilot in which free copies of sentencing remarks will be made available to victims of rape and serious sexual offences
Speaking after PMQs, Ms Terlizzi told the Mirror Mr Sunak “is not listening”, branding his response “a slap in the face for victims”. “I felt very emotional to see this raised to the Prime Minister and to be honest, I was so disappointed with his answer,” she said.
“I'm so tired of listening to promise after promise that ‘we care about ending violence against women, we care about victims having a better criminal justice system experience’, and it's not happening.” An emotional Ms Terlizzi, who has bravely waived her right to anonymity, said she feels “I’ve had my right to heal stolen from me”.
“I think it's so important that they give every victim the right to know what was said and what happened during the trial of the crime they were victims of,” she said. “And even more important is - I’m getting a little bit emotional - I just think that is their right.
“How is justice being done if it's not seen? How will victims come forward, knowing that they're not supported by the criminal justice system, that they will not be given the rights? I feel I’ve had my right to heal stolen from me. And until I get my transcripts, it's very hard to move on.”
Ms Terlizzi waited almost two years before her case went to trial after being raped by her then boyfriend, Hubert Greliak, 35, in February 2020. He was jailed for 13 and a half years in April 2022 after being found guilty of rape and assault by penetration.
MP for Richmond Park Ms Olney told the Commons: “Astonishingly, Juliana is not alone. I have heard of victims who have been quoted fees of up to £22,000 just to read trial transcripts that are part of their own story. Justice should not have a price tag."
The Liberal Democrats' amendment to the Victims Bill would give all victims the right to read sentencing remarks and summings up free of charge. Ms Olney addressed the PM: “Juliana is here in the gallery today and she asks if the PM will support that amendment. Will he look her in the eye and say yes?"
Mr Sunak said: "I'm extremely sorry to hear about Juliana's case and my sympathies are with her and indeed her family. We are committed to improving victims' access to court transcripts to help them move on and rebuild their lives.
“We already offer a free service to families of homicide victims for example and that's why we have already committed to a one-year pilot to help identify the current demand and inform our next steps and alongside this we're actively looking at other options to immediately reduce the costs.”
Ms Olney later added to the Mirror: “I’m disappointed in the response. All we are asking for is to take the cost of producing a transcript away from the victim. It’s a very simple and straightforward thing. It's about looking after our victims and recognising the importance of victims in the criminal justice system.”
Ms Terlizzi, along with other victims and their families, is backing the Open Justice for All Campaign. Along with free access to court transcripts, it is also calling for better rights for rape survivors – including allowing victims to attend the whole of their trial after giving evidence and better virtual attendance facilities so vulnerable people don’t have to come face to face with their alleged attacker.