TWO-AND-A-HALF years since his conviction, a teenager who killed another man with a screwdriver will be let out on day release, the Government has confirmed.
The Ministry of Justice and Probation Service has informed the mother of victim David Rodway that her son’s attacker, Darrell McLeish, will be allowed out of secure hospital grounds with a nurse for several hours during the day.
David’s mum Maureen Johnson has told News Shopper she wouldn't be responsible for her actions if she saw McLeish and would face a jail sentence for her son.
She added: “And for every minute of that sentence I would have a smile on my face because I know I would have finally got justice for my son.”
McLeish of Widecombe Road, Mottingham, was aged 19 when he was given an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act for killing 29-year-old David in Bromley town centre in 2006.
Police found Mr Rodway in East Street with a screwdriver embedded in his head after a disagreement between him and McLeish.
The Government’s letter to Ms Johnson confirms McLeish will not be allowed into the Bromley borough during his “rehabilitation process”.
Ms Johnson, of Ascot Road, St Paul's Cray, says she now wants a meeting with officials at the Ministry of Justice to question their decision.
The 55-year-old said: “The judge says there was no limit to his sentence. I believed he would never get out, I believed what the judge said.”
Judges at the Old Bailey handed McLeish the hospital order after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We thoroughly evaluate any risk to the public when considering applications for escorted leave for restricted patients.
“Victim rights are always taken into account when considering any leave requests, but granting escorted leave does not necessarily mean a patient will be discharged into the community."
He added: “Escorted leave in the community plays a vital role in the safe treatment and graduated return to the community of restricted patients.”
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