David Harker, who admitted to killing and eating parts of a mother-of-four, Julie Paterson, in 1998, has been denied parole for the ninth time. The Parole Board ruled that it is still not safe to release or transfer Harker based on the need to protect the public.
A convicted killer, David Harker , who confessed to consuming parts of his victim, Julie Paterson , has been denied parole for the ninth time. Harker, now 51, was sentenced in 1999 for the 1998 murder of Ms. Paterson in Darlington.
He admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and is serving a life sentence. Psychiatrists agreed that Harker had a severe psychopathic disorder at the time of the crime, making him not guilty of murder in the eyes of the law. In a chilling confession, Harker admitted to luring Ms. Paterson to his home, killing her, and cooking and eating part of her thigh with pasta and cheese.
Harker has been eligible for parole since 2013, with a recent hearing held to determine if he should be transferred to an open prison or released. However, the Parole Board ruled that it is still not safe to release or transfer Harker based on the need to protect the public. A report on Harker's behavior in custody noted significant improvement, with no disciplinary findings since 2015.
The panel considered a 365-page dossier containing reports from various professionals, including a psychologist and someone who worked with Harker on a prison program. All submissions argued against Harker's release. The Parole Board's decision was based on an independent assessment of risk, concluding that Harker should not be released or transferred to open conditions. Harker was not present at the hearing and did not make representations.
The search for the remaining parts of Ms. Paterson's body, which have never been recovered, continues to this day. Harker has 21 days to appeal the Parole Board's decision
David Harker Julie Paterson Cannibal Manslaughter Parole Psychopathic Disorder
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