Gloria De Piero MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Minister has today written to Patrick Kennedy, Chief Executive of Paddy Power, calling on him to rethink their policy of offering odds on the verdict of the Reeva Steenkamp murder trial and back the call from women across the country to donate the takings so far to domestic violence charities.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Patrick Kennedy,

You will no doubt be aware of the anger and offence caused by Paddy Power’s decision to take bets on the murder trial of Reeva Steenkamp.

Two women a week in the UK are killed by their current or ex-partner. Rather than making sport out of the death of a young woman, I would urge you to consider the impact offering odds will have on a grieving family.

I ask that you rethink your policy of offering odds on the verdict of this trial and back the call from women across the country to donate the takings so far to domestic violence charities.

Yours sincerely,

Gloria De Piero MP,

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities