Police killer verdict 'in months'

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The Parole Board has said it hopes to have a decision on police killer Harry Roberts' possible freedom from prison by the end the year, a court has heard.

The announcement was made in the High Court to pre-empt a legal bid by Roberts, 70, for a judicial review over delays in his case.

Roberts was given life in 1966 for the murder of three policemen in Shepherd's Bush, west London.

His 30-year tariff expired 10 years ago, but he remains behind bars.

Five-year delay

Under current rules, he can only be kept in prison if he is still considered dangerous or a risk to the public.

He is still in jail on the basis of secret evidence which was gathered against him.

His lawyers asked on Wednesday for permission to seek a judicial review of the board's "extreme and exceptional delay" in making a decision on his parole application.

Martin Westgate, who was appearing for Roberts, said there had been a five-year delay in processing his application.

Roberts' victims - David Wombwell, Christopher Head and Geoffrey Fox

He argued the delay meant the board was in breach of Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guaranteed a rapid hearing.

But Michael Fordham, appearing for the board, said it had not been delaying proceedings.

He said: "My clients are committed to dealing with the case as speedily as possible.

"It is the board's aim to dispose of the case by the end of the year, if it is possible to do so."

The judge said it appeared there had been a "very long delay" and would adjourn Roberts' application until October.

Roberts was jailed for murdering Pc Geoffrey Fox, 41, Sgt Christopher Head, 30, and Det Con David Wombwell, 25.

The murder of the three plain-clothes officers was one of the most high-profile crimes of the 1960s.

The officers were gunned down in front of children playing in a street, after they had pulled over a van containing Roberts and two other men following an armed robbery.