The Government today published the Bill which finally closes a legal loophole allowing child killers to get away with murder.

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill confirms victory for the three-year campaign launched by The Argus after the death of four-year-old John Smith.

The boy was left with 54 injuries after a catalogue of abuse by adoptive parents Simon and Michelle McWilliam, from Southwick.

But they were jailed for only eight years on cruelty charges. Murder charges were dropped because it could not be proved who delivered the fatal blows.

In a second case a Brighton couple, jailed for cruelty to five children, were originally tried for murdering three babies but the case collapsed in 2000.

They could not be convicted of murder even though medical experts were sure all three babies had been smothered.

Today's Bill - part of the biggest shake-up of domestic violence laws for 30 years - has been designed to foil "silent killers".

The Bill will introduce a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult.

Known as "familial homicide", this will close the loophole by ordering parents to explain what happened. Refusal will lead to prosecution, with a likely maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

Kemp Town MP Dr Des Turner said he was pleased the Government had kept its promise to change the law, He had attempted to close the loophole by tabling amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill in the last Parliament. They were not accepted but Ministers promised action at the earliest possible opportunity.

Simon Bradshaw, editor of The Argus, welcomed today's news. He said: "This is a tremendous success for grass-roots crusading and for the many people who joined The Argus campaign and for those who did their own lobbying.

"But there will be no celebrating.

"Too many children have died at the hands of wicked parents and guardians who went unpunished.

"Our thoughts will remain with those innocent children.

"Our hopes are that the new law saves lives in the future and ensures proper justice for offenders."

In a separate part of today's Bill, men or women accused of domestic violence will face new court orders forcing them to stay away from their partners, even if they are acquitted by a court.

Solicitor General Harriet Harman is to create a "yellow card" system as one of many measures to protect people from abusive partners.

Ms Harman said the legislation, which will also cover gay couples and unmarried heterosexuals, is designed to bring wife beaters into the criminal justice system earlier and will mean "no more excuses for domestic violence'.

The Bill will also make common assault an arrestable offence in order to "clarify and extend" current police powers, said the Solicitor General.