Government fails in bid to keep double child killer behind bars
Double child killer Colin Pitchfork is set to be freed from prison after the Parole Board rejected a government challenge against its ruling.
Pitchfork, now in his early 60s, was jailed for life after raping and strangling 15-yearolds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.
He became the first man convicted of murder on the basis of DNA evidence in 1988 after admitting two murders, two rapes, two indecent assaults and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Pitchfork's 30-year minimum term was cut by two years in 2009 and he was moved to an open prison three years ago.
Following a hearing in March, the Parole Board ruled he was "suitable for release", despite this being denied in 2016 and 2018.
But last month Justice Secretary Robert Buckland asked the board, which is independ
ent of the government, to reexamine the decision under the so-called reconsideration mechanism.
Yesterday the Parole Board announced the application had been "refused".
A spokesman said: "The Parole Board has immense sympathy for the families of Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann and recognises the pain and anguish they have endured and continue to endure through the parole process. However, Parole
Board panels are bound by law to assess whether a prisoner is safe to release. It has no power to alter the original sentence set down by the courts. Legislation dictates that a panel's decision must be solely focused on what risk a prisoner may pose on release and whether that risk can be managed in the community.
"As made clear in the reconsideration decision, release was supported by all of the Secretary of State's witnesses during Mr Pitchfork's review."
Barbara Ashworth said the decision to allow her daughter's killer to be released was "disappointing" but "he can't hurt me any more" , adding: "I've had 33 years of it and it's all been said and as far as I'm concerned he's going to be out in amongst the public so it speaks for itself."
The reconsideration mechanism makes clear that "being unhappy" with the decision is not grounds for reconsideration.