Lawyer wins battle over missing persons law (From Messenger Newspapers)

Altrincham lawyer wins battle over missing persons law

8:00pm Saturday 21st July 2012 in News

AN ALTRINCHAM lawyer who worked on the Vinny Derrick case is celebrating a Government announcement on the legislation surrounding a missing person after years of campaigning.

The remains of Patington resident Vinny were discovered in Cheadle recently, and solictor Kirsten Bennett has been working with his family since he disappeared after a night out eight and a half years ago.

Kirsten, of Altrincham law firm Lund Bennett Law, was chosen by the Law Society Gazette as its Lawyer of the Week recently for her work on the case.

She and Vinny’s widow Vicki have been campaigning to introduce legislation that would help people when a family member goes missing and enable them to deal with the day to day finances of their missing relative.

Now, following an inquiry by the Justice Select Committee, a ‘certificate of presumed death’ could be introduced in England and Wales and key recommendations for changes to the current law were made.

Kirsten said: “Families of missing persons have long argued they are not adequately supported by the justice system, often being left in limbo and unsure of what to do.”

A Ministry of Justice statement confirmed: “The Government will introduce legislation to achieve this when Parliamentary time permits.”