Parole Board Faces Criticism Over Private Testimony in Murder Case
Victim's family expresses frustration as convicted killer Steven Ling's parole hearing testimony is moved behind closed doors.
Overview
- Steven Ling, convicted of a brutal murder in 1998, was expected to give public testimony at his parole hearing.
- The decision to hold Ling's evidence in private has been labeled a 'farce' by the victim's mother, Doreen Soulsby.
- Legal reforms in 2022 allowed some parole hearings to be public in an effort to increase transparency.
- The Parole Board cited the need for Ling to provide his 'best evidence' as the reason for the private session.
- Ling's prison offender manager testified that he meets the criteria for release but suggested a transition to open conditions first.