Good morning. Murderers who refuse to reveal the location of a victims body could be forced to spend longer in prison. Thejustice secretary david gauke has announced plans to introduce whats known as helens law. It follows a campaign by the mother of helen mccourt, who was murdered in 1988. Helens body was never found. Ben ando reports. For 31 years, Marie Mccourt has been fighting for helens law, named after her daughter who was just 22 when she was abducted and murdered in 1988. Her killer, pub landlord ian simms. He has never revealed the whereabouts of helens body. To take a life is horrendous, but then to take the lives of the family of the loved one and not let them know where their loved ones body is, there is no torture worse than that. I could say ive had a dripping tap on my head for the last 31 years. Its far worse than that. Its a pain in your heart that will never go. Marie led a campaign demanding that murderers who refused to disclose the whereabouts of a victims remains spend longer behind bars. In 2016, mps voted in favour of helens law, but it did not receive government backing until now with thejustice secretary david gauke proposing that it be introduced as soon as practicable. The parole board can already use withholding information as a reason not to release a prisoner because it suggests there is still an ongoing risk to the public. But its optional. Helens law changes that. It makes factoring it in a legal requirement. Even now, marie lights candles every week at her home in merseyside. Although she still does not know where her daughters remains are, the creation of helens law may provide some comfort especially if it means other families wont have to face both the pain of loss and the agony of not knowing. Ben ando, bbc news. Helen mccourts mother, marie, who you saw in that report, joins us now from salford. Thank you for staying to speak to us. Thank you for staying to speak to us. This has been a Long Campaign for you. Why has it been so important to try to get the government to recognise the impact that this has on the families of people who have been murdered . Well, to prevent killers from deliberately trying to get away with murder by hiding the victims body in a place where they hope nobody will find them. The 31 years, ive searched andi them. The 31 years, ive searched and i cannot find, although weve searched long and hard, and we havent been able to find where helens body was hidden. Hes done nothing to help you in part because of his campaign to claim that he is innocent despite the fact he was convicted on dna evidence, including blood and an earring that was believed to be the same as when your daughter was wearing. How much has that added to the distress for you and yourfamily and for that added to the distress for you and your family and for helens friends . It blocks the grieving. I look back now and i see other families where they stay strong in front of a camera, where they believe their loved one has been kidnapped or could be laying hurt somewhere but when that word comes through that, hopefully, they find a body, then that family fall apart. Thats their grief and its good and that needs to come out. For people like me, where there is no sign of a body, where i have to go by whats given by the police and heard in court, and yet still my daughter isnt allowed to have the last of a human right, to have a christian or a burial of the type they want. Its clearly in Human Behaviour on the pa rt clearly in Human Behaviour on the part of people who have this power over victims families and choose to exercise it or not and do nothing to help. Have you ever considered that perhaps, even pushing for this is adding to the pressure on you and yourfamily . That adding to the pressure on you and your family . That in adding to the pressure on you and yourfamily . That in a adding to the pressure on you and your family . That in a sense adding to the pressure on you and yourfamily . That in a sense if adding to the pressure on you and your family . That in a sense if you left things as they were, and its very easy for me to say, but it might ease things in time . Youre putting yourself through constant pressure trying to get the law changed and also your search for her body. Yes. The last four years, the other years we were just going out searching ourselves. When i realised that he could be getting ready to be released, i thought, that he could be getting ready to be released, ithought, this that he could be getting ready to be released, i thought, this isnt right. No killer who refuses to say where their victims body can be recovered from have no right to be allowed back into the community, because they are totally unsafe. Theyve committed a crime, they refused to say where the body is, or they still carry on pleading their innocence. Even though my daughters killer, the evidence against him is 1. 1 billion. The hidden not to tell us 1. 1 billion. The hidden not to tell us the least thing to let us at least bury our loved one or whatever service that loved one would have liked. My daughter has been denied both her life, shes been denied being married, having children, may being married, having children, may be having grandchildren, and this is all a terrible pain. However, the worse thing is not knowing where her body lies. As thejudge worse thing is not knowing where her body lies. As the judge said, he cast her garments to the rats and hes denied us the right to say a last goodbye to our door to. The pa role last goodbye to our door to. The parole board already has guidance that allows it to effectively deny Early Release to prisoners who dont say where the body is buried new law the government is proposing would only require them to consider this. It wouldnt actually guarantee they wouldnt still release murderers. Are you worried about that . To a point, yes, i am. Are you worried about that . To a point, yes, iam. Buti are you worried about that . To a point, yes, i am. But i accept that if this is the law then that is better than what the law was all these last 31 years, where killers have been released without saying where their victims remains hidden. Now, because its going to be a law and its going to be on the statute book, will be parolejudges now have to really go in and double check and double check again to make sure that this killer is safe to be released. And for the very fact that the evidence committed to them and theyll still not saying where their victims body is, they shouldnt be allowed out. Theyve committed that crime, their victims body, there area crime, their victims body, there are a lot of victims bodies unrecovered, and these families, for a parolejudge to unrecovered, and these families, for a parole judge to say we think they are safe to be released, well, then, they have to look into their heart because they are pandering to the killer and not allowing the victims family, they are helping to torture us. Family, they are helping to torture us. Thank you. We hope this will be the start of an important change in the start of an important change in the law for you and the other families of the victims of murderers. An earthquake measuring 7. 1 magnitude has struck Southern California. Its the second earthquake to hit the region in two days and the biggest tremor the us state has felt in two decades. The earthquake epicentre was near the city of ridgecrest, about 240km north east of los angeles, but there are no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. 0vernight, the director of the california Governors Office of Emergency Services said they are prepared for more aftershocks. This was a very large earthquake, and we also know theres going to be a series of after shocks as a result of the main quake, so we want to prepare ourselves in being able to have those resources in place as the days go on here. This isnt going to be something thats going to be over right away. We will be in 27 7 operations here at the state 0peration centre, in support of the counties until the situation is fully mitigated. Katie walden, who lives in los angeles, says shes never felt any quake that strong before. My friends and i were watching a movie when it happened. We were watching midsommar, which is a horror movie, and theres a part when the world turned upside down and we thought it was the speakers. But the whole theatre started shaking, and after about ten seconds people started to get up to leave. Then they realised it was ending, and they sat back down and started watching the movie again. I had never felt anything that big. There was one the other day and i was in my apartment and my shelves were shaking, and i thought that was it. But i think, i was in West Hollywood at the time, so we were pretty far away from the epicentre of the earthquake, but we still all felt it. Ive lived here for about six years and ive never felt anything that big. Dr wendy bohon is a geologist studying earthquakes at the Incorporated Research institutes for siesmology in washington. Thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news at what is still a fairly unearthly hour for you. There is no surprise this earthquake came, it was effectively an after shock. Thats right. Every earthquake has between 85 and 6 chance, sorry, i havent had enough coffee between five and 6 chance of an after stock. This large earthquake is essentially that small chance. 0ther further after shocks likely . Yes. We have issued a forecast for after shocks and we are expecting there will be after shocks, people need to be prepared to feel more shaking and take action. That means drop, cover and hold on. Shaking and take action. That means drop, coverand hold on. It can shaking and take action. That means drop, cover and hold on. It can be really frightening to be in an earthquake. To have repeated after shocks can put people on edge. Everybody needs to be prepared for them. Its unlikely there will be another earthquake of the same size but not impossible, unlikely but there will be after shocks. But not impossible, unlikely but there will be aftershocks. We had a night witness we had an eye witness saying she hadnt felt anything like it. Californians havent really experienced in recent yea rs havent really experienced in recent years the sort of earthquakes the state has been associated with. Yes. Weve been in an earthquake drought. Its unusual weve gone so long without having a large earthquake, the last one was in 1999 and that was a the last one was in 1999 and that wasa similar the last one was in 1999 and that was a similar magnitude to the one experienced today. This earthquake that just occurred experienced today. This earthquake thatjust occurred and the one that preceded it are out in the high desert near the town of ridgecrest with about 30,000 people in the region. Fortunately it sparsely populated but it was widely felt. This is a great reminderfor californians but this is earthquake country, earthquakes happen and we need to be prepared. The underlying fault deep in the ground below california, its not that nature has resolved it, its simply that those plates are still conflicting and at some point they will be set off again. Exactly. The surface of the earth is covered by a thin skin of rock and thats broken up into giant plates. The places where the plates come together is where we have the most earthquakes. California sits on one of these and that boundary, we call it the San Andreas Fault but thats not really correct. The san andreas is the largest fault but theres hundreds of other faults taking up the motion of those two plates and this was one of them. The stress will continue to build up in the crust in different places and that stress will be released during earthquakes. For all we are able to do and things we can change, this is something we can never change. Thats right. This is a normal process of the earth, just like volcanic eruptions and weather. We need to learn how to live with earthquakes and had to withstand them and we need to make sure our cities are resilient and our population is prepared. Very good advice. Tell us what we need to do should we find ourselves in an earthquake. When you feel earthquake shaking, drop down, take cover under a steady object and hold on until you feel it stop. If youre in california, go to the website for all of the updates and Additional Information and what to expect. Thank you for being up so early for us. Thank you for being up so early for us. Thank you. An eloquent explanation for any time of day but even more eloquent for the time of mourning it is in washington, dc the conservative leadership election continues in earnest with borisjohnson and jeremy hunt taking part in two hustings today in nottingham and cardiff. With ballot papers sent out in the last few days, the bbc has learned that around 1,000 tory Party Members have received two ballot papers in the post. The conservative party said anyone who votes twice in the leadership contest will be expelled. With me is our political correspondent, peter saull. Good morning. This is a relatively small number overall. Have they given us any explanation of how it came about . There has been a drive in recent years to push up the number of members in the party and we think there are around 160,000 voting in this contest. But we dont know for sure because that is because they could be some duplicates. There are people signed up duplicates. There are people signed up to different local conservative associations, there are people who had changed surnames having got married. We dont know quite exactly how widespread this issue is with duplicated ballot papers. The conservative party cant give us an exact figure. This figure of 1000 comes from an internal party figure. It may be serious or it might not be. The message from the conservative party today has been, its written clearly on all these ballot papers, you must only vote once and if you dont you will be kicked out of the party. That was also a message from the former chairman of the conservative party when he spoke to the bbc this morning. He said, im an mp and registered to vote in my constituency and also in london, and this is a normal issue in an election. The difference here is the level of oversight because in normal elections, the Electoral Commission has powers and ultimately you can go to court with it if it looks like someone to court with it if it looks like someone has abused the system. With this, its the conservative party who police it. I have a strong memory ofjeremy corbyn doing an interview years ago at the time of the london mayoral elections and said its crazy, ive got six votes because im a member of this organisation, an mp. I guess from their point of view its down to the honesty of individual members. What about this question thatjeremy hunts campaign has raised which is that ballot papers have gone out and lots of people are likely to send them back before the hustings process is over and certainly before they hear the debate . Many people have already voted. It is already happening. Yes, jeremy hunt is the underdog and has got round to make up underdog and has got round to make up on Boris Johnson. And not much time. Exactly. He is saying to members, hold off, wait until youve seen me members, hold off, wait until youve seen me in action at one of the regional hustings. Theres also a tv debate on itv on tuesday. Say there are two opportunities for people to hear them. And also on the bbc on friday. There are still plenty of opportunities for the candidates to be scrutinised. That is the message from jeremy hunt. Most of them are going to these regional hustings, they are very well attended, a lot of them are going with an open mind and seeing what the candidates have to say. Jeremy hunts campaign safe a lot of them are going in saying they will support Boris Johnson a lot of them are going in saying they will support borisjohnson and then coming out saying they are going to supportjeremy hunt. But there is a poll out today suggesting borisjohnson is way ahead. It does appear that he is heading towards downing street and that is why he is keen to do all he can to get people to change their mind. Thank you. The headlines on bbc news. Murderers who refuse to say where theyve buried their victims could be more easily denied parole under a proposed new law. A powerful earthquake has hit Southern California for the second time in a matter of days. Its the strongest in the region for 25 years. As the two men vying to be pm again attempt to win over members in two hustings today, a bbc investigation discovers some Party Members are receiving two ballot papers. Sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, heres will perry. Good morning. Another bumper day at wimbledon on day six. Harriet dart, johanna konta, serena williams, rafa nadal, Roger Federer all playing today. Yesterday was about 15 year old cori gauff who had sent a quote mesmerised. She saved two match points to fight back and eventually beat Polona Hercog to become the youngest player into the last 16 sincejennifer become the youngest player into the last 16 since jennifer capriati. Teenagers, right . Always listening to their music. She has a pretty good excuse, though this is quite a big occasion. Shes got to zone in. But not since 1990 have we seen anything quite like this. Jennifer capriati, as a 1a year old, reached the fourth round that year. Commentator well, thats an inspired shot, i must say and what stands out most about gauff, despite being just 15, is her composure, playing shots that those double her age would be proud of. Up until now, the occasion has seemed utterly untroubling, but maybe here, signs of stress a double fault to hand hercog the first set. But if you doubt her bottle, have a look at this. Going for the line takes guts even more so when facing match point. And so, to a tie break to keep her in the match. Yes and we are one set all here its hard not to feel something. Back in business then, backed up by some backhand brilliance. Polona hercog played the unenviable role of pantomime villain but brought plenty of spice to the match. Henman hill at a new hero. They could sense a seminal moment. 0ver they could sense a seminal moment. Over to you, coco. They could sense a seminal moment. 0verto you, coco. Cheering the noise tells you everything you need to know. Simply astonishing. Not old enough to board a certain roller coaster is but the right continues. The crowd was amazing. Even when i was down match point they were still cheering me on and im super thankful they believe in me. Hunger, character, talent. Coco is popping all the bubbles and will be labelled a champion in the making. Shes already play