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Helen McCourt: Killer Ian Simms set for parole Helen McCourt murderer Ian Simms set for parole
(about 1 hour later)
A murderer who has refused to reveal the location of his victim's body is set to be paroled. The mother of a murder victim is "horrified" her daughter's killer will be freed despite never revealing where his victim's body is.
Helen McCourt disappeared in February 1988 at the age of 22, on her way home from work in Liverpool. Ian Simms, 63, was jailed in 1989 for murdering Helen McCourt who disappeared in February 1988, aged 22.
Simms was jailed for life in 1989 and told he would serve at least 16 years. Simms was originally sentenced to a minimum of 16 years.
Ms McCourt's mother, who earlier this month urged Simms to reveal where her daughter's remains are, said she was "in shock" and "horrified" by the decision. The killer was considered for parole for the seventh time on 8 November and officials said he "met the test for release".
Simms, 63, had his case considered at a seventh parole hearing on 8 November and the Parole Board said the prisoner had "met the test for release". Earlier this month, Ms McCourt's mother Marie urged Simms to reveal where her daughter's remains are.
He was denied release at his previous hearing in 2016 but subsequently transferred to an open prison "due to progress made" where he has "followed the rules" when granted temporary release. After receiving a call from her victim liaison officer earlier confirming Simm's release, Mrs McCourt was shaking with anger.
The Parole Board said it "carefully considered" Simms' failure to disclose the location of Ms McCourt's body and concluded there is "no prospect of Simms ever disclosing the whereabouts of his victim even if he were kept in prison until he died." "I'm just in a state of shock to be honest," she said, from the family home in Billinge near St Helens, Merseyside .
"I've just had some forms come through, I think that's on what grounds the parole board has granted him release on licence, but I don't know all the conditions.
"I don't know, some people are telling me little bits and this is the wrong way to do it.
"I was just in shock. I'm still trying to deal with it. I'm horrified by it, I'm horrified by it. This man is a danger, you know."
After Simms was denied release at a hearing in 2016, but was subsequently transferred to an open prison "due to progress made", where he has "followed the rules" when granted temporary release.
The Parole Board said it had "carefully considered" Simms' failure to reveal where he concealed Ms McCourt's body and concluded there is "no prospect of Simms ever disclosing the whereabouts of his victim even if he were kept in prison until he died."
The board added the refusal continues to cause understandable distress and misery to the victim's family and the panel concluded this demonstrated a lack of empathy.The board added the refusal continues to cause understandable distress and misery to the victim's family and the panel concluded this demonstrated a lack of empathy.
But it said denial was not a "necessarily determining factor" and also considered evidence from two psychologists who recommended release. But it said denial was not a "necessarily-determining factor" and also considered evidence from two psychologists who recommended release.
The Parole Board said: "Taking into account the denial, the refusal to reveal where the victim's body is, all the risk factors, the progress that Mr Simms has made, the considerable change in his behaviour, the fact that he has not been involved in any violence or substance misuse for many years, his protective factors, the recommendations from all the professionals and all the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Simms met the test for release." The Parole Board said: "The progress that Mr Simms has made, the considerable change in his behaviour, the fact that he has not been involved in any violence or substance misuse for many years, his protective factors, the recommendations from all the professionals and all the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Simms met the test for release."
Earlier this month Helen's mum Marie McCourt called on Simms to end the "torture" and reveal once and for all where he hid her body. Mrs McCourt has described not knowing the whereabouts of her daughter's body as "torture".
She also urged the next government to introduce Helen's Law, which would have denied parole to killers who do not disclose their victims' remains. She has also urged the next government to introduce Helen's Law, legislation that would deny parole to killers who do not disclose their victims' remains.
The bill recently ran out of time, when the general election was called.
"If Helen's Law had been on the statute books right now those judges would have to really make sure in their decision to release him that he would be safe," said Mrs McCourt.
"They would have to go into that, they would have to obey that law and it hasn't happened."
She added she did not know when or where Simms would be released and had "very little to go on".