Helen’s Law row as murderer set for release

A RETIRED detective has slammed the parole board which is set to release a wife killer – despite him never revealing what he did with the body.

Anthony Knott said it was wrong to free Russell Causley who murdered Carole Packman in Bournemouth, in 1985.

Causley became the first person in Britain to be convicted of murder without there being a body. He was jailed for life.

He later confessed to the crime and claimed he had set fire to Carole’s corpse and scattered her remains – then said he buried her.

However, he retracted his confession and maintained he was innocent. Now aged 76, Causley is due to be freed.

Mr Knott, an ex-police superintendent, said Causley should stay locked up until he shows remorse and reveals what he did with his wife’s body.

He said: “I believe there should be forgiveness for prisoners but there must be some sign of contrition.

“I don’t think he’s ever shown that. In my opinion he is a psychopath. The parole board doesn’t seem to have any issue in releasing people without them revealing where bodies are. I have serious question marks over that.”

Mrs Packman was 40 when she disappeared from the family home in Bournemouth in June 1985 after visiting a solicitor to inquire about a divorce.

It was another 11 years before Causley was convicted of her murder.

The case follows a similar parole board decision to free Ian Simms who murdered 22-year-old Helen Mccourt in 1988.

Simms was released this year although he never revealed what he did with the body. Her family are calling for Helen’s Law to block the release of killers in such circumstances.