The family of Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, who died following an arson attack on their home, has voiced strong criticism of the justice system and early release policies, stating that two of the individuals convicted of their manslaughter will serve only half their sentences. Relatives argue this outcome, influenced by prison overcrowding, effectively allows the perpetrators to 'get away with it.'
The attack, described as a 'wicked' revenge plot orchestrated by drug dealer Kevin Weetman, targeted Mrs. Jackson's son, George, who was involved in a dispute with Weetman over drugs. Weetman recruited Lee Owens and Paul Smith to set fire to the couple's home in St. Helens, Merseyside, on July 15 of the previous year. George Jackson was out at the time of the fire and returned to find his parents' home ablaze.
Firefighters rescued Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Greener from the property, but both died days later from their injuries. Weetman, Owens, and Smith were initially cleared of murder. The jury convicted Weetman and Kylie Maynard of manslaughter, while Owens pleaded guilty to the same charge, having stated he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the attack. Paul Smith died by suicide a week after the incident.
In February, Maynard received a 23-year sentence, and Owens was jailed for 13-and-a-half years. Both were initially informed they would serve two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for release on license. However, the family recently learned through victim support services that both Maynard and Owens are now expected to serve only half their sentences. Weetman, who received a life sentence with a 25-year minimum before parole eligibility, is not affected by these early release provisions.
Family members expressed profound anger and distress, feeling that the justice system prioritizes criminals over victims. "Our nan and grandad weren't given a second chance, so why should they?" one relative stated, emphasizing that the early release, attributed to prison overcrowding, diminishes the gravity of their loss and the suffering endured by the family.
Mrs. Jackson, a retired factory worker, and Mr. Greener, who had been together for 30 years, are remembered by their family as devoted and beloved figures whose loss has irrevocably changed their lives.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged the challenges within the prison system but asserted that public safety and victim support are paramount. The spokesperson stated that dangerous offenders are blocked from early release and that those released face strict conditions, including electronic tagging. However, a recent National Audit Office report highlighted system flaws, with a significant number of offenders ordered to wear tags not receiving them, raising concerns about the effective scaling of community monitoring and public protection.
"Offenders who a judge has deemed the most dangerous are automatically blocked from early release, and prisoners who behave badly while behind bars face being locked up for longer," the ministry said. "Anyone who is released faces tough rules, such as restrictions on their movements, tagging, being banned from attending public events, pubs and clubs, backed by our record £700m investment into probation and 1,300 extra probation officers."