JUSTICE Secretary Dominic Raab today vowed to enforce a crackdown on coward killers refusing to go to court.
The Deputy PM promised to introduce a new law punishing murderers for refusing to attend sentencing hearings.
A Ministry of Justice source told The Sun Mr Raab wants legislation to pass before the next General Election.
It comes as evil murderer Thomas Cashman was caged for life yesterday for murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel - but refused to face her mum in court.
Nine-year-old Olivia was tragically caught in the cross-fire of a deadly gang war when she was gunned down at her family home in Liverpool.
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The youngster had been stood behind her mum Cheryl Korbel when Mr Cashman, 34, blindly fired through the front door in a botched gang hit.
His bullet missed intended hit Joseph Nee and instead passed through Cheryl's hand into the middle of Olivia's chest.
Mr Raab said: "Spineless criminals like Cashman who hide from their sentencing prolong the suffering of victims and their families.
"As I have already made clear, I plan to change the law to compel offenders to face up to their actions, so victims can see the justice they deserve being served."
MPs today heaped pressure on the Deputy PM to fast track a change in the law.
Ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel slammed the matter as a "stain on British justice".
She told The Sun: "This is a real moment of reflection. In light of the atrocious nature of Olivia’s murder the time has come for the law to change.
"I hope M Rabb really picks up the cause now to give victims priority in the justice system."
Ms Patel added: "I hope that the Justice Secretary will heed the many many calls to change the law in this particular area."
Former Minister Brendan Clarke-Smith told The Sun: “Vicious murderers must be dragged to court to face the facts of their heinous crime and the consequences of it.
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"We must do whatever we can to give victims and families the justice they deserve – so I hope legislation is fast tracked to achieve this.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed slammed Mr Raab for not implementing change sooner.
He said Labour has been calling for a change in the law since April last year.
And since then five evil murderers have refused to look the family of their victims in the eye.
“Yet another day has gone past, and the Tory government has stood by while killers, rapists and terrorists pick and choose whether they turn up to face justice," Mr Reed said.
“Labour will always put victims of crime first and give judges the power to force offenders to face the consequences of their actions in court. Victims deserve nothing less."
This morning Farah Naz, the aunt of Zara Aleena, who was tragically killed while walking home from a night out in East London, described court avoidances as another "attack" on victims.
Like Cashman, Ms Aleena's murderer Jordan McSweeney refused to show up to court for his sentencing.
"Surely the judgment is part of the punishment," Ms Naz told BBC Breakfast.
"We need to see that the process will deter further crime and how can the process feel like a punishment if the convict actually exercises their bit of power?"
She added: "I would like Dominic Raab to move forward with developing this law."
An MoJ source told The Sun that punishing criminals for not showing up at court will not become part of Mr Raab's new landmark Victims' Bill.
But officials are drawing up plans for fresh legislation to push through "when parliamentary time allows" in the next few months.
