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Ripper in legal bid for freedom | Ripper in legal bid for freedom |
(20 minutes later) | |
Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe is aiming to win his freedom by claiming his human rights have been breached, a leading law firm has confirmed. | Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe is aiming to win his freedom by claiming his human rights have been breached, a leading law firm has confirmed. |
Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and tried to kill seven others across northern England in the 1970s and 80s. | Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and tried to kill seven others across northern England in the 1970s and 80s. |
But now a lawyer specialising in human rights cases is to argue that the Home Office has fallen foul of the law. | But now a lawyer specialising in human rights cases is to argue that the Home Office has fallen foul of the law. |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it was "hard to imagine circumstances" in which Sutcliffe would be freed. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it was "hard to imagine circumstances" in which Sutcliffe would be freed. |
But lawyer Saimo Chahal, a partner at London-based Bindmans & Partners, believes although Sutcliffe was told he would serve a minimum of 30 years in jail, the tariff was never formalised. | But lawyer Saimo Chahal, a partner at London-based Bindmans & Partners, believes although Sutcliffe was told he would serve a minimum of 30 years in jail, the tariff was never formalised. |
Sutcliffe began his sentence in 1981, but three years later was diagnosed with schizophrenia and moved to Broadmoor Hospital. | Sutcliffe began his sentence in 1981, but three years later was diagnosed with schizophrenia and moved to Broadmoor Hospital. |
Now the lawyer aims to get Sutcliffe back into the prison system and has requested a reassessment of his psychiatric condition. | Now the lawyer aims to get Sutcliffe back into the prison system and has requested a reassessment of his psychiatric condition. |
I find it hard to imagine circumstances in which he should be Home Secretary Jacqui Smith | I find it hard to imagine circumstances in which he should be Home Secretary Jacqui Smith |
A profile of Ms Chahal on the Bindmans LLP legal firm website confirmed that she acts for Sutcliffe and added: "The Secretary of State is in breach of Article Five of the ECHR (European Convention of Human Rights) in failing to set a tariff." | |
Ms Chahal was named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in a 2006 poll for "repeatedly pushing the boundaries of the law on behalf of those with mental illness". | Ms Chahal was named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in a 2006 poll for "repeatedly pushing the boundaries of the law on behalf of those with mental illness". |
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she could not see how Sutcliffe could be freed. | But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she could not see how Sutcliffe could be freed. |
"I find it hard to imagine circumstances in which he should be; but that is something that needs to be considered on the basis of the facts. | "I find it hard to imagine circumstances in which he should be; but that is something that needs to be considered on the basis of the facts. |
"Top of my list of priorities, I have to say, is not Peter Sutcliffe's rights, it's the rights of those people who were his victims, and how we keep this country safe." | "Top of my list of priorities, I have to say, is not Peter Sutcliffe's rights, it's the rights of those people who were his victims, and how we keep this country safe." |