My wife’s killer may soon be free
FURY AT DAY RELEASE FOR DRIVER AFTER JUST TWO YEARS
KILLER driver Sean Herman could be back on the streets less than two years after mowing down loving mum Susan Fuller.
The 63-year-old did not stand a chance after Herman ploughed into her in the Audi car he was driving as she stood outside her Wallsend home.
But now Susan’s still grieving family are being forced to come to terms with the fact that they could soon be sharing the streets with the man who took her life, less than two years after she died.
Herman was jailed for just seven years after a murder charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
And now Susan’s widow David has been told that he wife’s killer will be allowed to come home on day release.
The move comes just two months after the family was told the Ministry of Justice would be putting a temporary block on Herman’s releases, prompted by a Chronicle story.
Today, David tells of his disgust that the killer could be allowed to walk free, less than two years after his horrific crime.
The 66-year-old said: “I just think it’s disgraceful. I wonder if it had happened to their families whether they would be so quick. It’s not even been two years, I haven’t even had a chance to get my head round any of it.”
Susan was outside her home on Coldstream Gardens, in Howdon when she was driven over as her sons Barrie, Dale and Scott watched on helplessly.
Herman was arrested soon after and charged with murder, but the 24-yearold pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) accepted the plea.
Herman was sentenced to seven years by judge Mr Justice Goss at Newcastle Crown Court in April last year.
Since then David has been fighting a losing battle to get justice for his wife and campaigning to get her killer’s sentence increased.
The Fuller family have employed two independent solicitors to look over the case, and set up an online petition which was signed by more than 1,300 people.
And at first, David said, it seemed as if the authorities were listening.
In July we told how David received a letter saying Herman would be blocked from applying for temporary release, until the end of August.
And the public’s feelings and The Chronicle’s coverage were mentioned in the correspondence.
The letter said: “The offender manager has informed me that she is placing a temporary block on any ROTL (release on temporary licence) applications being accepted until late August.
“The offender manager will need to submit a report which is disclosable to the offender explaining the reasons why this is happening.
“They will not be currently accepted for ROTLs on the basis that a petition has came to light highlighting the general public’s ill feeling towards the offender being out in the community, as well as the fact that the case has garnered recent local media attention.
“You have advised myself that you have discussed the case with The Chronicle.”
But last week David got another letter telling him that Herman was now eligible to apply for day release once again. Herman, of Tillmouth Avenue, Seaton Delaval, who has a previous conviction for careless driving, was also banned from driving for three years after release.