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Ripper in legal bid for freedom | Ripper in legal bid for freedom |
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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 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, said that although Sutcliffe had been told he would serve a minimum of 30 years in jail, she believes 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. |
If he were returned to the mainstream prison system, then a decision would be taken on the length of sentence he must serve. | |
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." | 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 - who has now changed his name to Peter Coonan - 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." |
In a statement on their website, Bindmans said: "This firm is instructed by Mr Coonan (previously known as Peter Sutcliffe) in respect of the setting of a minimum tariff following his conviction. | |
"Any prisoner is entitled to have a tariff set within a reasonable time of conviction which will set out the minimum term of imprisonment to be served." | |
James Welch, legal director of Liberty, said it was established law that alllife prisoners should know the minimum amount of time they must remain in prison. | |
"If there is uncertainty in this case, it is in everyone's interest that thisis rectified," he said. | |
"Of course, prisoners use any argument available to them, but the courts' role is to weigh these arguments against the interests of victims and society as a whole. | |
"The Human Rights Act has done more for the victims of crime than theperpetrators." |