The Government will look into the rights of incarcerated parents, after Newshub revealed the lengthy custody battle Kim Richmond's family have been fighting with her killer.
From behind bars, Cory Jefferies has tried to stop the grandparents' application for custody of the couple's children, costing them thousands of dollars in legal fees.
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And now, other victims are adding their voices to the call for law reform.
Tracey Richmond shared her family's painful story, in the hope the powers that be would hear it, and make changes.
Her sister's partner and killer Jefferies has tormented her family by fighting a child custody battle from behind bars.
"I don't believe he should have so many rights," Tracey told Newshub. "Kim doesn't have any rights anymore because he took them away for the rest of her life."
The Prime Minister listened, and made a commitment.
"It does seem an area that warrants looking at because there will be other cases like this," Jacinda Ardern said.
And those other cases have now come forward.
Karen Edwards understands the Richmond family's experience all too well, as it's eerily
Her daughter, Ashlee Edwards, was drowned by her partner in 2012.
Karen fought her daughter's killer for almost a year to get custody of her two young grandchildren.
"That was just a nightmare, an absolute nightmare," Edwards said.
Just like the Richmonds, the legal battle came at a huge financial and emotional cost, and she wants victims' families to be eligible for immediate legal aid.
"We need to know that we can afford to pay for the legal battle," Edwards told Newshub.
In both cases, the killer has made little or no payments of child support.
Tracey Richmond revealed on Tuesday Jefferies was even able to sell the Waikato farm he owned with Kim - without giving a dollar to the children.
"It shouldn't have been able to be sold," Tracey said. "It should have been frozen, until such time as he was found guilty or not guilty."
Justice Minister Andrew Little said the current system doesn't work for a lot of victims and their families, and announcements could be expected in the coming months.
Newshub.
