(UK)DOUBLE child killer Colin Pitchfork can be released from jail, the Parole Board has confirmed.

I do wonder what parents of victims must feel now

Maybe Pitchfork will soon post a thread asking what life in Switzerland is like for ex-cons or asking why all his job applications in Switzerland have been rejected.

Yeesh...

I'll get my pitchfork.

Has he paid his 'debt to society'?

One has to conclude that he is being released in accordance with current law, rules and regulations. If you don't like those, then perhaps you should be pushing for a change in the law.

It isn't all about punishment, rehabilitation also plays a rôle.

As a civilised society we have decided that the death penalty, even for the most heinous of crimes, is wrong.

Not wishing to sound harsh, I don't think the familys' opinions are important here.

Well no he isn't. That's the whole point regarding the controversy.

https://twitter.com/BarristerSecret/...82432765792261

If sentenced today, Pitchfork could expect a whole life order.

<panto mode> Oh yes he is.
</pm>

Current law, rules and regulations determine the criteria needed for the parole board to give conditional release on licence, and have clearly been applied.

That's irrelevant. Like saying that someone done for speeding and fined chf100 ten years ago should be liable for a chf1000 fine if that would be imposed today.

The only thing that's changed between then and now is the sentencing guidelines, anyway, not the law, rules or regulations per se.

But he isn’t been sentenced today. Times change and so do laws, but applying such changes retroactively doesn’t seem right to me.

That would be a very dangerous path.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you said. You said he was released in accordance with current law. But he wasn't. He was released according to the sentencing regime from 30 years ago.

The current law obviously says that historical sentences are upheld and respected, so of course in this instance his release is in accordance with current law.

I guess that makes sense.

Sorry a dumb moment Bowlie. We are all in agreement I think

I don't agree here. It's all about family of murdered kids - and nothing about anything else. They lost their children .

That's just not how this works.

I know - however I guess that would be the 'exception' I'd accept.

OK, now that he's out they can murder him.

Tom

My understanding is that he hasn't paid his debt to society and never will. He's released on licence. If he breaks the conditions, commits a minor offence or is deemed to be a danger to the public, he'll be back in prison.

He's currently seen as no danger to the public, so it makes sense to release him on parole, as it is a hell of a lot more effective use of public money.