James has expressed the deep anger and distress of his constituent’s family following the deportation of the criminal to Lithuania who killed her mother, sister and stepfather in a dangerous driving crime.
The release and deportation came after James raised the case with the Prime Minister and urged him to pursue “all potential avenues to prevent and early removal given these terrible circumstances.”
James highlighted the driver was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for three counts of causing death by the dangerous driving. However, the family contacted James after they were recently told he may be released imminently to be deported, having served only three years. James asked the Prime Minister to pursue “all potential avenues to prevent and early removal given these terrible circumstances.”
The response from the Minister confirmed that he would not seek to intervene in the case or even ask for an explanation of why provisions under the Early Removal Scheme to prevent release of an offender where it would undermine public confidence in the scheme or justice system were not used.
Commenting on the removal of the offender, James Wild MP said:
“This is devastating news and I know Summer and her family feel extremely hurt and angry at this early release from prison. He is now free to walk the streets and live his life having served three years for killing three people.
“Ministers are in positions of power and should always act to support victims. I very much regret the minister did not seek an explanation, as a minimum, for why this removal was not referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme before the criminal offender was deported. This leaves the family once again feeling the justice system is not working for them as the victims.
"I would be hard pressed to think of a case that could more seriously undermine public confidence in the “scheme and/or Criminal Justice System” than one where the offender served only three years and a month for killing three people.
“While the fight for justice in this case is over to try and make a change for future cases, I will continue to work with the family to see how the system could be reformed to prevent such hurt for other families."
