Parole Hearing For Killer Landlord

Published 18th Jan 2016

A man who murdered a woman as she left work in Liverpool 27 years ago is facing a parole hearing today to see if he will be released from jail.

Helen McCourt from Billinge near St Helens was abudcted in 1988.

A body has never been found but pub landlord Ian Simms was jailed for her murder with the use of DNA evidence in 1989.

He was told he faces a minumium of 16 years behind bars before being considered for released.

Helen's mum Marie has continuinley urged Simms to reveal where her daughter's body is.

She's since campaigned for a change in the law - calling for killers to remain in prison for life if they never reveal where their victims are.

Speaking to Radio City News last year Marie said:

"That man must be told that he will spend the rest of his days in prison unless he tells me where Helen is."

"Once he releases that information for me, they can release him."

"Once someone shows genuinley remorse, let them be done by the authorities. I will walk away from it, I just want my daughter's remains in our churchyard."

A spokesman for the Parole Board for England & Wales said:

"We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board is this week considering the parole review for Ian Simms. At this time, we have not received the panel’s decision. We are unable to comment further on the details of this case."