Should Colin Pitchfork Be Released?

[Ellipsis]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-57384393

By my reckoning, he's about 70 now. He has been in prison for 33 years for the brutal rape and murder of two fifteen-year-old girls, three years apart.

I'm not an advocate of the death penalty, but I don't think he should be released. What do you think?

[davebro]

"From his picture, he looks evil"

everyone looks evil in a police mugshot

[chelle7272]

piggy she was sentenced to 25 to life, so a minimum of 25.

[burlyshirley]

Just googled Brenda Spencer. It says she got two 25 years to life sentences. That's why she is still behind bars.

[pixie374]

Dave, this is my point. I also know two convicted "murderers", both of which I would trust with my life. I'm also a "victim" of someone currently in prison. But, it isn't about vengeance, it's about safety of the public.
Sometimes, 50 years won't be enough to rehabilitate someone to be released, sometimes 2 years will be. Length of time, isn't entirely the point.
I would only imprison deliberately dangerous people personally, for however long they need. But locking a motorist up for an accident, I don't think is helpful.
We should go with intention, rather than result, imv (not relevant here, I realise).

[youngmafbog]

Should have been strung up in the first instance, this savage is just thieving oxygen.

But if we cant have that then life must mean life - and that should be handed out far more often than it is. Stop giving the right-on parole officers chance to play judge.

[Ken4155]

I recall watching the two-parter, 'Code Of A Killer' a few years back and i remember thinking then that, but for DNA, this guy would most likely have gone on raping and killing. He almost got away with getting a friend to give DNA in his place. He ought not to be released but, until our judicial system is radically overhauled, what are we to do?

[Ellipsis]

I must say, based on some of these replies, that Colin does have an extremely appropriate surname!

[Canary42]

At the time of his sentencing it was said he had a willingness to "seek revenge".

So what will he be like after 33 years - doesn't bear thinking about.

[pixie374]

Canary, as he has been in an open prison for the last 4 years... an improvement.

[david small]

This creature should have been extinguished many years ago. What a waste of resources keeping it alive.

[Theland]

The anonymity of the members of the parole board should be abolished.
Accountability and openness would make for fairer decision making.
Also, surely if we want to be humane, people like Colin Pitchfork could be housed for the rest of their lives in a remote place somewhere, but never allowed to integrate with the rest of society.
Or just string 'em up!

[Fatalbertfixer]

How on earth can a double murderer be even considered for release.The parole board isnt fit for purpose if they think this is acceptable.

[Theland]

Too many tea, biscuits and psychobabble.

[tomus42]

It's obvious to anyone with a brain and a functioning moral compass that people like this should never be released. If the rules of the parole board dictate that they had to arrive at this decision then the rules need changing.

[Peter Pedant]

oh thank god
I wondered where Aryan Bank had gone
it's here !

It is a matter of law ( release )
and the law was changed so that the release date was NOT decided 33 y ago - coz fings change in between - see?

The rather odd comments of the Judge ( "take him dooooown and let him stay there for evva!" ) were a reaction to the new rules that he DIDN't say that - but ho hum even judges have to learn new tricks.
slowly

[Peter Pedant]

// At the time of his sentencing//....
which was 33 y ago

now can anyone remember a young lad acting unwisely 10 y and now being completely different. I bet he is now sports mad
Perhaps a reader can recollect his name ...

[emmie]

no he shouldn't be released, i believe he is in his early sixties.
he has already been in an open prison, wrong on every level.

[Peter Pedant]

why dont we pull his finger nails out and be done with it?

[davebro]

I read somewhere he had committed 1000 (?) incidents of indecent exposure - a rather ingrained mindset?