Bereaved families call on government to prevent early release of killers

Dozens of bereaved families have urged the government to block more killers from being freed under its early release scheme.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Alex Norris, the families said they feel victims are ‘being asked to bear the consequences of the prison capacity crisis’.

Signatories include John Hunt, whose wife Carol and daughters Hannah and Louise were murdered in a crossbow attack in 2024, and Emma Webber, whose son Barnaby was stabbed to death in Nottingham in 2023. Barnaby’s killer Valdo Calocane was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Also, a signatory to the letter is Diana Parkes, whose daughter Joanna Simpson was killed by her estranged husband Robert Brown in 2010. Brown was also convicted of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Their letter comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated the Government would make changes to the early release scheme to ensure that the killers of PC Andrew Harper, who were convicted of unlawful act manslaughter, are not eligible.

Without further changes to the scheme designed to tackle jail overcrowding, 5,000 people are currently set to be released early, down from 6,000 after some exemptions were announced as part of an urgent review.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the Government is ‘fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars’.

In their letter, the families welcome the efforts made to ensure PC Harper’s killers do not benefit from the scheme.

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But they insist that ‘the protection now being considered for one group of bereaved families should not inadvertently exclude others whose loved ones were killed, including in circumstances that resulted in a conviction for voluntary manslaughter’.

It adds: ‘Voluntary manslaughter includes cases in which all the elements of murder are present, including an intention to kill or cause serious harm, but a partial defence reduces the conviction from murder to manslaughter.

‘These offences can therefore involve some of the most serious and devastating homicides heard by our courts.’

The letter also highlighted concerns that some of the most serious domestic homicides result in convictions of voluntary manslaughter and that it would be ‘difficult to reconcile with the Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls’ if those offenders were released early.

The letter adds: ‘In recent days, we have spoken with numerous bereaved families affected by homicide.

‘A consistent theme has emerged: many feel that victims are being asked to bear the consequences of the prison capacity crisis through the earlier release of those convicted of the most serious offences.

‘Whether intended or not, this is creating a growing sense that justice for victims and public protection are being compromised in order to address pressures elsewhere in the system.

‘We therefore urge the Government, as it seeks to prevent those responsible for the killing of PC Harper from benefiting from the early release scheme, to ensure that voluntary manslaughter is also brought within the proposed exemption.’

Voluntary manslaughter involves killing with the intent to kill or cause serious harm, but where a partial defence applies, namely loss of control, diminished responsibility or killing pursuant to a suicide pact.

Involuntary manslaughter can involve conduct that was grossly negligent given the risk of death and did kill, and conduct taking the form of an unlawful act involving a danger of some harm that resulted in death.

PC Harper’s killers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were found guilty of unlawful act manslaughter, and under current plans remain eligible to be freed in January, half way through their 13-year sentences.

The officer was fatally injured when he got caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was dragged down a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: ‘We have always stated we wanted to go further, and we are fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars.

‘That’s on top of murderers and those serving sentences for rape, serious child sexual abuse and grooming offences who are already blocked from any changes.

‘We share the public’s anger that these options are even being considered, after we inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse.

‘We are fixing this by building 14,000 new prison places, expanding electronic tagging on an unprecedented scale, and investing in probation services at record levels.

‘We are also exploring how we can go further, including faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women’s estate and reviewing the unjust IPP sentences.’

The Prime Minister has asked the Justice Secretary to present a plan for further changes of the early release scheme to Parliament in early September.

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, chairwoman of the board at Refuge, England’s largest specialist domestic abuse service provider, said: ‘This letter brings together more than 35 signatories, including bereaved families from across the country who have experienced the worst loss imaginable.’

Ms Barkworth-Nanton, who was best friends with Joanna Simpson, added: ‘We welcome the Government’s willingness to recognise that offences of this gravity should not benefit from accelerated release.

‘Our concern is that this principle should be applied consistently across all homicide offences.

‘Families should not feel that the level of protection they receive depends on the particular legal category attached to the offence. Justice must be fair, consistent and centred on victims.’

Frank Mullane, chief executive officer of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, said: ‘The breadth of support for this letter demonstrates the strength of feeling among bereaved families.

‘These are not isolated voices. Families from many homicide cases in recent years are united in calling for a clear and consistent approach to homicide and early release.’

Jo Early, chief executive officer of Support after Murder and Manslaughter, said: ‘Bereaved families understand the pressures facing the justice system.

‘But they should never feel that justice for victims is being diluted because of those pressures. The most serious offences should be treated consistently and public confidence must be protected.’