Colin Pitchfork will be released

Why wasn’t it a “whole life order” in the first place? It fits these criteria
Whole life order starting point – the ‘exceptionally high' seriousness category

“The starting point is a whole life order where the seriousness of the offence (or of the offence and other associated offences) is ‘exceptionally high’ and the defendant was aged 21 or over when the offence was committed. Cases that would normally fall into this category include: (a) the murder of two or more people where each murder involves a substantial degree of premeditation/planning, abduction of the victim, or sexual or sadistic conduct; (b) the murder of a child involving the abduction of the child or sexual or sadistic motivation”
www.defence-barrister.co.uk/life-sentences

Yes, I think you are right OP.

"He pleaded guilty to both murders in September 1987 and was sentenced to life in January 1988. The judge said the killings were "particularly sadistic" and he doubted Pitchfork would ever be released"

And yet, here we are.

RIP Lynda and Dawn

It's very demoralising to be constantly reminded of how little women and girls matter.

We just don't matter, do we? So sickening.

Sickening news, yet again women and girls are let down by the “ justice” system. He should be in for the whole of his natural life, nothing less.

Ffs, yet again the safety of women comes 2nd. I utterly despair.

I wonder how people feel about moving this thread to somewhere with more traffic?

The Lord Chief Justice at the time of his sentencing said: "From the point of view of the safety of the public I doubt if he should ever be released."

And yet here we are. Because a degree and passing your time transcribing music into Braille means you are no longer a sexual psychopath

I read a book about the case, it was horrific.
there are some instances where rehabilitation is considered impossible, and the individual is incarcerated for life. Why not this man?
He raped and murdered 2 schoolgirls and had every chance of getting away with the crime until a woman reported a chance conversation she overheard.

It disgusts me that he is being released

@AssassinatedBeauty
Just out of curiosity did you choose to post this in this section of feminism or did MNHQ post it here?

Its so disgusting. Its a shame they can't have their names tattooed on their faces or something. He can just slink away into society and get on with his life, living as he was before.

Bloody hell, it makes me feel sick.
What neighbourhood is going to have this murderer foisted on them?

Should never be released. Absolutely disgusting.

I'd like to know why, for anyone, life doesn't mean life. No 'it's 18 years' nonsense. You get a life sentence (usually because you've killed) then you go to prison until the end of your life. Whether that's five years or eighty five years.

This decision is disgusting.

Why don't life sentences reflect the fact that people are now living longer?
If we all have to wait longer to be able to claim a pension etc, then surely other things should reflect longer life expectancy also. Why haven't the justice system caught up to this?

This man could realistically have 30 - 35 years of life left once he is released, while those young girls will never have that chance because of him.

And yes, FemaleAndLearning what an amazing coincidence that Pitchfork had indecently exposed himself to more than 1000 victims before he was caught.

When he leaves prison he'll be able to expose himself to as many women and children as he wishes, with even less fear of any penalty. Since men are allowed into so many women-only spaces if they claim to be transwomen, he'll have plenty of changing rooms to choose from.

These incidents are too common to get into the news. And it's so rare for a man to be challenged -that it makes headlines when they do, eg the Californian Wi Spa incident: thepostmillennial.com/exclusive-mom-reveals-naked-hot-tub-daughter

Faith in a justice system that locks rapists up with women? That manages to prosecute a miniscule amount of rapists. That lets monsters like Pitchfork out because he spent some of his time incarcerated for the rape and murder of two teenagers getting an education that most young people in this country are saddled with thousands in debt to get?

I can't say I share that faith.

I am utterly horrified and disgusted at this disgusting individual being released. Seriously think we should have the death penalty for him and the likes of Wayne Couzens.

Oh of course - he got a degree. So that's OK. Because no one with a degree ever committed a crime?

I'd be slightly inclined to believe he felt remorse if he asked never to be let out. (And he should still be kept in prison, remorseful or not.) But he's a psychopath, he is never going to feel remorse, though he may well be able to fake it.