My story: Rapist and double Murderer to be released??

In November 2003, my Dad, Philip Michael Haselip, was violently murdered in his home in Corby. 

On 16th August 2004, Rikki Stewart (RS) was convicted of the murder and received a mandatory life sentence with a minimum tariff of 8 years, 3 months and 4 days imprisonment.

He was further sentenced on 1st July 2005 to a concurrent determinate sentence of 10 years for a violent rape and to a 17 year extended sentence (10 years custody and 5 years extended license), for culpable homicide, both of these crimes were committed in Scotland.

We, the family, have now been informed by the probation service, that he is to be released from prison this month (on temp license).

The murder of my Dad has had a devastating effect on the whole family. His Wife, Children, Grandchildren, Brothers and Sister. My Dad was a much loved man; he was extremely kind and altruistic. He was a talented musician and was a true kind, gentleman.

The murder, by R.S. was an ‘unprovoked’ and extremely vicious attack, instigated with no reason or mitigation whatsoever. 

His crimes have had a massive impact on not only the immediate families of victims such as ours, but also for all those who knew them.

 R.S. has ‘never’, at any time shown remorse for his crimes and it is the unanimous opinion of families and friends that in order to protect the vulnerable members of society he should serve a ‘full’ life sentence.

Above is the time line and the facts so to speak.

What the information above doesnt explain is the man my Dad was, the loss we have all felt since that awful day in the November 2003. 

My Dad was an amazing Bass guitarist, a keen gardener and could put his hand to fixing most things (especially my nans vhs player). He would have helped anyone, anytime, any way he could. 

All of the family, his friends, bandmates and anyone who was lucky enough to have met him, miss him dearly. In all honesty we still cannot believe that it happened. 

So imagine the shock, disgust, anger and injustice we all feel knowing that his murderer, someone who had previously murdered and brutally raped a person, could be out walking the streets alongside vunerable or unsuspecting people.

We would never want another person to experience what we have.