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Straw in talks over bail murders Straw in talks over bail murder
(about 1 hour later)
Justice Secretary Jack Straw is to meet MPs to discuss a series of killings that have been committed by men who had been released on bail. Justice Secretary Jack Straw is to meet the family of a murdered man to discuss why his killer was out on bail.
This follows a complaint by Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North, about the release of Adam Swellings.This follows a complaint by Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North, about the release of Adam Swellings.
The nineteen-year-old murdered Garry Newlove hours after his release. The 19-year-old was out on bail and one of three youths convicted of murdering Garry Newlove, 47.
Mr Straw will also meet the MP for Hemel Hempstead, where former policeman Garry Weddell is thought to have shot his mother-in-law while on bail. Mr Straw is now set to meet Mr Newlove's family and also discuss the release of his killer with Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North.
Mr Newlove, 47, died two days after being "kicked like a football" when he confronted a gang in Warrington in August 2007. The father-of-three died two days after being "kicked like a football" when he confronted a gang in Warrington in August 2007.
One of the conditions of Swellings' bail release had been that he did not go to Warrington. He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead Helen Newlove
Swellings, 19, of Meredith Street, Crewe, Stephen Sorton, 17 of Honister Avenue, Warrington, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, were convicted of the sales manager's murder. One of the conditions of Swellings' bail release had been that he did not go to Warrington. He had been released only hours before he attacked Mr Newlove.
I can understand one error of judgment, but it appears the system failed twice over and an innocent woman is now dead Mike Penning, Hemel Hempstead MP Swellings, 19, of Meredith Street, Crewe, Stephen Sorton, 17 of Honister Avenue, Warrington, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, were convicted of the sales manager's murder on 16 January.
'Absolutely disgusted'
After the verdict, Helen Newlove, 44, said she was disgusted that Swellings was allowed to go free and later kill her husband.After the verdict, Helen Newlove, 44, said she was disgusted that Swellings was allowed to go free and later kill her husband.
She said: "We knew he had previous convictions but it was a shock to myself and to my family to hear he had been released that day.She said: "We knew he had previous convictions but it was a shock to myself and to my family to hear he had been released that day.
"I'm absolutely disgusted. These magistrates - it's unbelievable. They let him out and they walk the streets. He's not taken a blind bit of notice of the conditions of bail."I'm absolutely disgusted. These magistrates - it's unbelievable. They let him out and they walk the streets. He's not taken a blind bit of notice of the conditions of bail.
"He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead.""He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead."
Mr Weddell's body was found near Broomhill's Shooting Club, in Markyate, Herts, on the same day that the body of his mother-in-law, Traute Maxfield, 70, was found in Gustard Wood, Herts.
'Error of judgment'
Mr Weddell, a Met Police inspector, had been due to go on trial in May for the murder of his wife, whose body was found in their home in Dunstable last year.
The body of Mrs Maxfield was found at a house in The Slype, Gustard Wood, 11 miles from the field where Mr Weddell was discovered. It is thought that he took his own life.
Garry Weddell was free on bail while awaiting trial for murder
Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning said the public "deserve answers" over Mr Weddell's release.
He said: "How did we get to a position where a man, who spent three months in custody on remand for murder, was released on conditional bail by a judge, broke the bail conditions, was re-arrested and released on bail for a second time at which point he appears to have killed again?
"I can understand one error of judgment, but it appears the system failed twice over and an innocent woman is now dead.
"The second time he was bailed appears to have been a very misguided decision. Frankly, we have to ask the question, 'was it because he was a policeman?' because the public deserve answers."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Jack Straw has offered to meet Helen Jones and Garry Weddell's MP to discuss issues of bail.
"We are looking to set those meetings up at the moment."