Now another freed murderer has been recalled to prison
A SECOND notorious killer has been recalled to prison after controversially being freed by the Parole Board, it emerged yesterday.
Russell Causley, 78, could now be kept locked up until he reveals what he did with his wife’s body.
He murdered Veronica Packman, 40, in 1985 and spent 24 years in prison. To the fury of her family, he was released from his life sentence last year – despite the panel condemning his ‘heartless’ refusal to reveal the location of her remains.
Yesterday it emerged that the murderer had been recalled to prison for breaching his licence. It heaps further pressure on the embattled Parole Board following the recall just over a week ago of double child killer Colin Pitchfork, who was put back behind bars after approaching girls near his bail hostel.
Causley was released before legislation which requires the board to take into account the anguish caused by the failure of murderers to reveal what they did with their victims’ remains became law.
Yesterday government sources suggested the legislation – known as Helen’s Law – could affect Causley’s prospects of being released again if he continues to refuse to co-operate.
But Causley’s grandson, who has fought to keep him behind bars, said he had lost faith that the rule would make a difference. Neil Gillingham said: ‘I’m ecstatic that he’s back in prison where he belongs. He should clearly never have been released in the first place.
‘Having my evil, narcissistic, wife-killer grandfather back on the streets has made these past 12 months the worst of our lives. I’ve had to move house, I’ve got five locks on my front door. We’ve been living in constant fear that he will try to contact us.
‘I’m suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of it all.’
But Mr Gillingham dismissed the prospect of Helen’s Law finally forcing Causley to give the family the answers they’ve sought for so long.
‘The rules are clear – the Parole Board would be obliged to release him again provided they’re satisfied the risk can be managed in the community.’
Backing calls to reform the parole system, he added: ‘For my grandfather to be recalled so soon after Colin Pitchfork demonstrates the need for great scrutiny and transparency on how convicted killers come to be released.’
Causley’s risk of causing harm to others was assessed as ‘medium’ when the Parole Board cleared his release in September last year. An appeal against the decision by then Justice Secretary Robert Buckland was rejected.
Insiders stressed his recall was a result of breaching his licence conditions – which include living at a designated address, being of good behaviour and disclosing ‘developing relationships’ – rather than committing further offences or exhibiting ‘concerning behaviours’.
It is expected he will be subjected to further psychological examination before becoming eligible to reapply for parole in up to six months.
In June 1985, Causley’s teenage daughter Sam – mother of Mr Gillingham – returned from school to her Bournemouth home with her father to find her mother’s wedding ring and a note supposedly written by Mrs Packman saying she was leaving. A year earlier, former electronics engineer Causley had moved his younger mistress into the family home, saying she needed somewhere to stay. He was later jailed for two years after trying to fake his death in a boating accident as part of an insurance scam.
Police reopened their investigation into Mrs Packman’s disappearance following a jail cell ‘confession’ and he was convicted of her murder at Winchester Crown Court in 1996. That conviction was quashed on appeal, but he was found guilty again at a retrial in 2004.
The Probation Service said: ‘When offenders breach the conditions of their release and potentially pose an increased risk, we don’t hesitate to return them to custody.’