Parole hearing dates set for murderer Russell Causley

Nearly four decades after murdering his wife Carole Packman, Causley will have his hopes of release heard on October 6 and 14 – following a referral by justice minister Dominic Raab.

Causley, now in his late 70s, was handed a life sentence for killing the mother of his child Carole Packman after she disappeared in 1985 – a year after he moved his lover into their home in Bournemouth.

He was one of the earliest people in the UK to be convicted of murder without a body in 1996. This conviction was overturned in 2003, until a retrial the next year found him guilty again.

Bournemouth woman Carole Packman, whose body has never been found after disappearing in 1985

Causley, who has never revealed the location of his wife’s body, was freed from prison in 2020. In November 2021, he was taken back into custody for breaching standard license conditions.

After the October 14 hearing date, a decision on his future will be decided within 14 days – barring any delays or adjournments.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “The parole review of Russell Causley has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.”

Russell Causley with Carole Packman and daughter, Samantha

Living victims of Causley are his daughter Sam Gillingham and grandson Neil – who told the Echo he predicts his “evil” grandfather will once again be released following the October hearing.

Neil, 32, said: “This is a prominent year for my grandmother as she has been missing for 37 years this month. Carole is still missing and Russell is about to have what I think is his eighth full oral parole hearing with one release already, and I suspect he is going to be released again.

“A decision to release is based on risk and not morality or ethics, and the Parole Board previously released him so unfortunately, whether we like it or not, I imagine this will happen again. The fact they are considering him for release is contemptable and undermines justice, but it is what it is.

Neil Gillingham in 2014. Picture: Sally Adams

“If Russell is going to be given freedom, we can’t stop that, but maybe prior to getting this freedom maybe he will have a change of heart and show some true rehabilitation by revealing where Carole is.

“She was 40 when she went missing and she’s been missing for 37 years so for almost the same amount of time she was on this planet she has been missing. No body, no grave, no death certificate – nothing.

“My grandfather wants to be famous, he likes the attention. But he could now become famous for the right reason by giving us peace.”

Following the news that parole hearings are to be opened to the public for the first time from next month as part of reforms to the system, Neil said he has applied to be present at the hearing and is awaiting a decision.