Tyrone Clark: Mother of murdered teen wants changes to parole system

The mother of a teenager murdered 20 years ago has called for changes to the parole system after repeatedly speaking out for her son's killers.

Tyrone Clarke, 16, was attacked by a gang and stabbed to death in Beeston, Leeds, in April 2004.

Four men were subsequently sentenced to life in prison for murder, but since being conditionally released at the end of their minimum sentence, two have been recalled to prison for breaching their license conditions.

Tyrone's mother, Lorraine Fraser, said each recall caused a new round of parole hearings, which she described as “horrible” and forced her to “live it all again”.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that two of the men, Anjum Amin and Islamur Rahman, had been recalled to prison for breaching license conditions since their release.

Ms Fraser said Amin had his license revoked three times.

She said: “It's with me every day. Some days when I think it's a good day I'm hit again by something, parole hearings, impact statements, it It's horrible.

“What I'm saying now is these parole boards are outdated. You can't keep revoking your license for life and get away with it.

“After the second revocation of their license, I think they should be locked up and serve their entire sentence again, because clearly they have learned nothing.”

The Probation Service said offenders sentenced to life are subject to strict conditions for the rest of their lives and risk being returned to prison if they are not complied with.

A spokesperson said: “We know this process can be distressing for victims, which is why the Victim Contact Program provides support including important updates.

“Victims can also opt out of the system at any time during their sentence. »

Tyrone was chased by a gang of around 20 men in Brett Gardens, Beeston, and was attacked with weapons including metal poles, wooden planks and CS spray.

While four people were found guilty of murder following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, a fifth suspect, Qasim Majid, fled to Pakistan and remains wanted by police.

Earlier this year, the daughter of Wendy Speakes, who was raped and murdered in Wakefield in 1994, launched a campaign to change the parole process.

Like Ms Fraser, she said the impact of repeated parole hearings forced her to relive the trauma.

Tracey Millington-Jones said she faced four parole hearings in six years as her mother's killer, Christopher Farrow, repeatedly tried to be freed.

Speaking in March, she said: “I spend months preparing a victim impact statement, then face the ordeal of entering the prison, where the man who murdered my mother is being held , to read it.”

Backing his campaign, Joanne Early, CEO of the charity Support After Murder and Manslaughter, said parole hearings “retraumatize” victims' families and called for the time between parole applications to be extended.