A leading barrister has warned that the Parole Board could make a “bad decision” regarding the future release of triple child killer Axel Rudakubana.
Speaking on GB News, Steven Barrett expressed concern about the body responsible for deciding on prisoner releases.
“There is a risk. I’m concerned about the body that will make the decision of his release being the Parole Board. It has made a load of very bad decisions recently,” Barrett said.
“It has let out all sorts of people,” he added.
Steven Barrett fears what the Parole Board may have in store for the Southport killer
GB NEWS / PA
Rudakubana, 18, was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed class in Southport last summer.
The defendant will not be eligible for parole until he is 70 years old.
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Justice Goose told the court that Rudakubana “will serve almost the whole of his life in custody”.
The teenager avoided a whole-life order as he was 17 at the time of the killings.
Barrett praised Justice Goose’s handling of the case, calling him “a fantastic judge and what a credit to our justice system he is”.
The barrister highlighted the judge’s swift approach to sentencing as particularly commendable.
Steven Barrett joined Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
“He went immediately into sentencing. He didn’t want to wait and did not want those families to suffer more delay,” Barrett said on GB News.
“The total sentence is higher than I thought he would give and I can understand why,” he added.
Barrett expressed particular concern about the Parole Board’s lack of accountability compared to government ministers.
“It wasn’t always their decision. It used to be with a minister who you could hold to account. I have never seen a member of a Parole Board do an interview,” he said.
The barrister argued for returning release decisions to government oversight.
“I don’t think a sitting Home Secretary of any party would release this man. The public scorn would be so great. The danger is the Parole Board. They don’t answer to anybody,” Barrett added.
Rudakubana pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
He also admitted attempting to murder eight other children and two adults at the dance venue.
The court heard he had been referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-extremism scheme three times before the murders.
Additional charges included the production of ricin, a deadly toxin, and possession of an Al Qaeda training manual.
