Cusworths championing legal changes

Jean Cusworth hopes no family has to go through what her and her husband Terry have been through the last 18 years.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Jean Cusworth

The Cusworth's daughter, Jennifer, was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered in October, 1993.

On Friday, Neil Snelson was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of manslaughter.

Snelson had been charged with first degree murder.

Jean Cusworth says, while this chapter has now closed, she is ready to fight for changes within the judicial system.

"I am hell bent that I am going to see (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper and we are going to have some changes to some laws Cusworth told the media on the courthouse steps after the sentence was handed down.

She says she wants to see two laws in particular changed.

"If a person has been convicted of previous crimes, that are related to what he or she are being charged with, it's going to be brought forward. It has to be brought forward," says Cusworth.

"If the jury had had that I think the verdict would have been totally different."

Snelson had been convicted of other sex related crimes prior to standing trial in the death of her daughter.

Cusworth says she also wants to see laws pertaining to discovery changed.

"Crown has to disclose everything. Defence doesn't have to disclose anything. In the States and in England, it's mutual disclosure and we're going to be fighting for that."

"We want some changes so things are better for other people."

Jean's husband, Terry Cusworth says the survivors need to have some rights as well as the offender.

Neil Snelson continues to maintain his innocence after being sentenced to 15 years in prison for the 1993 killing of Jennifer Cusworth. Castanet's Kelly Hayes reports.