Straw defends early release
Justice secretary Jack Straw defends early release scheme after freed prisoner murders woman
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Tuesday, 11, Dec 2007 07:02
Justice secretary Jack Straw has been forced to defend the government's early release scheme after a released prisoner went on to murder a woman.
Andrew Mournian, 36, killed Amanda Murphy, 47, five days after he was released from prison following a previous attack on the mother-of-two.
He was freed 18 days early under the end of custody licence scheme.
Last week Mournian was sentenced to life in prison for Ms Murphy's murder.
In the House of Commons today shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert questioned the early release scheme in light of the case.
Mr Straw said it was a "shameful murder" but said Mr Herbert should consider the remarks of the judge who sentenced Mournian.
"The senior high court judge, Mrs Justice Swift... said she did not believe that the defendant's early release had led to Miss Murphy's death, and she went on to say that the defendant would have carried out the attack whenever he was released," Mr Straw told MPs.
The early release scheme was introduced with much controversy in June in a bid to relieve the overcrowded prison system.
Mr Straw said at the time that the scheme would continue for "some time", while the government continues to expand the number of prison places available.
Earlier this month the government announced three super prisons housing 2,500 prisoners each are to be built as part of the attempt to deal with the prison capacity crisis.