Ex-soldier who brutally murdered mum with meat cleaver before dismembering her body could be FREED early from jail
A petition was presented to the Prime Minister demanding a change in the law
WALK FREE Ex-soldier who brutally murdered mum with meat cleaver before dismembering her body could be FREED early from jail
A SOLDIER who brutally murdered a young mother with a meat cleaver could soon be freed from prison.
Killer Stephen Wynne murdered 27-year-old mum-of-three Chantel Taylor by striking her in the neck and then dismembering her body with a saw.
3
Killer Stephen Wynne murdered 27-year-old mum-of-three Chantel Taylor
Credit: Merseyside Police
3
Chantal Taylor, 27, mum of three, pictured smiling
Credit: BBC
3
Ms Taylor's mother, Jean Taylor, giving an interview on ITV News
Credit: ITV
Wynne, who was 26 at the time of the murder in 2004, later stashed Chantel's remains in her own loft before moving them a few days later into a nearby woods and the local tip.
Her body was never discovered, meaning her family were forced to hold a funeral with just traces of her DNA from the murder scene in Birkenhead.
Now the Sun Online can reveal Wynne, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 after pleading guilty to murder, is set to appear before the Parole Board in two weeks.
His will 'horrify' Chantel's family, according to one MP.
Esther McVey who has been supporting the family said: "In this case life should mean life."
Wynne was originally sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years was reduced to 18 on appeal.
In 2023 he won the right to be moved to an open prison after a judge dismissed an objection by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab.
A senior judge ruled in Wynne's favour, concluding that the Government had provided "no good reason" for rejecting the board's recommendation.
Ms Taylor's mother, Jean Taylor, has previously told of the 'deep distress and devastation' felt by her family over the murder.
Earlier this year Mrs Taylor travelled to London to present a petition to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding a change in the law alongside Chantel's daughter, Whitney, 31, her sister, Natasha, 53 and Ms McVey.
They say current rules known as Helen's Law, in memory of Helen McCourt, whereby a killer who refuses to disclose the location of their victim's remains are barred from being granted parole, has a "significant limitation".
Chantel's family say Helen's law allows offenders who falsely claimed to reveal the location of concealed body parts to 'avoid the full accountability they deserve during parole hearings.'
A Parole Board spokesperson said: "An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Stephen Wynne and is scheduled to take place in June 2025.
"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.
'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
'Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
'The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Murdered woman's killer kept her death a secret for five years
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The exact fate of murdered Janet Brown remains a mystery today, 20 years after she vanished without a trace. Motivated by greed, Donald Graham killed his well-off partner Janet to get his hands on her money. The manipulative killer even managed to maintain a pretence that Janet was still alive for five years after his crime, meaning her murder went un-investigated during this time. Graham was eventually jailed for life after being convicted of murder, having repeatedly denied being responsible for her death. But he has never revealed how Janet died, or what happened to her body, reports ChronicleLive. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community (Image: PA) It's a case thought to be Northumbria Police's only murder conviction without a body. And today, two decades after Janet disappeared, we take a look back at how Graham almost got away with murder by attempting to ensure no-one would find out his victim was dead. One campaigner has told of her sadness that Janet has still not been laid to rest properly. Marie McCourt, 81, fought for the introduction of "Helen's Law" following the murder of her daughter on Merseyside. She said: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families." She added: 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. "Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' (Image: ChronicleLive) Janet was an independent woman who enjoyed travelling and loved animals, he friends and police have said. She came from a well off family and had made her own money developing properties. She did casual work as a television extra and a mystery shopper while spending much of the rest of her time travelling alone. Janet had been in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, who at Plane Trees Farm in Lowgate, near Hexham. Janet vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when an eagled-eyed bank worker spotted something suspicious. The employee alerted police after noticing signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not quite match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. By analysing Janet's bank accounts detectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham, just days before the pair had been due to travel to France together on holiday. And the last confirmed contact anyone had with Janet was on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog while she was away. Police believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18, however it would be some time before anyone knew she was dead. When Janet failed to turn-up for work on June 28 police were asked to go to her home to check she was alright, detectives have previously said. Her parents told officers they believed she had extended her holiday. But with Janet gone Graham continued to plunder her bank accounts, while maintaining a pretence that she was still alive. He even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet and saying she had found a new job abroad. However when her parents died, in 2007 and 2008 Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010. Police carried out extensive searches of Janet's parent's house and Graham's property in a bid to find her remains. Specially trained Cadaver dogs, search experts, and ground penetrating radar equipment was used. Yet to this day, how Janet died and where her body was hidden remains a mystery Donald Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. Jurors heard, how after killing Janet, Ferrari-driving Graham set about defrauding his victim and her family to the tune of more than £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. (Image: PA) During his trial it was revealed how he was eventually caught out. Janet's parents had intended their estates should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind if their only daughter died before them, the court heard. And it was explained how Graham was caught out when a Skipton Building Society clerk spotted a signature which did not match that of Janet's father. In fact Graham was posing as Mr Brown, a retired accountant, and was trying to shift money when the employee became suspicious and alerted the society's national fraud department, who began writing to their customer who was now, unknown to them, dead. Police were called in, and what started as a fraud investigation in 2009 turned into a murder hunt when officers became concerned about Janet's disappearance. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, following years of campaigning by Marie, whose daughter Helen was murdered on Merseyside in 1988, new legislation was introduced meaning that murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as "Helen's Law", places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. The law means Graham could die behind bars if he does not reveal where Janet's remains are. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Woods, who worked on the Northumbria Police investigation into Janet's murder, has previously told how unique the case was. "These cases are extremely rare. "My understanding is this is the only case Northumbria Police has had of somebody being convicted of murder when a body has not been found. It could have been the perfect murder, that no-one would known had taken place."
North Wales Live
5 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Murdered woman's killer kept her death a secret for five years
The exact fate of murdered Janet Brown remains a mystery today, 20 years after she vanished without a trace. Motivated by greed, Donald Graham killed his well-off partner Janet to get his hands on her money. The manipulative killer even managed to maintain a pretence that Janet was still alive for five years after his crime, meaning her murder went un-investigated during this time. Graham was eventually jailed for life after being convicted of murder, having repeatedly denied being responsible for her death. But he has never revealed how Janet died, or what happened to her body, reports ChronicleLive. It's a case thought to be Northumbria Police's only murder conviction without a body. And today, two decades after Janet disappeared, we take a look back at how Graham almost got away with murder by attempting to ensure no-one would find out his victim was dead. One campaigner has told of her sadness that Janet has still not been laid to rest properly. Marie McCourt, 81, fought for the introduction of "Helen's Law" following the murder of her daughter on Merseyside. She said: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families." She added: 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. "Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' Janet was an independent woman who enjoyed travelling and loved animals, he friends and police have said. She came from a well off family and had made her own money developing properties. She did casual work as a television extra and a mystery shopper while spending much of the rest of her time travelling alone. Janet had been in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, who at Plane Trees Farm in Lowgate, near Hexham. Janet vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when an eagled-eyed bank worker spotted something suspicious. The employee alerted police after noticing signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not quite match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. By analysing Janet's bank accounts detectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham, just days before the pair had been due to travel to France together on holiday. And the last confirmed contact anyone had with Janet was on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog while she was away. Police believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18, however it would be some time before anyone knew she was dead. When Janet failed to turn-up for work on June 28 police were asked to go to her home to check she was alright, detectives have previously said. Her parents told officers they believed she had extended her holiday. But with Janet gone Graham continued to plunder her bank accounts, while maintaining a pretence that she was still alive. He even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet and saying she had found a new job abroad. However when her parents died, in 2007 and 2008 Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010. Police carried out extensive searches of Janet's parent's house and Graham's property in a bid to find her remains. Specially trained Cadaver dogs, search experts, and ground penetrating radar equipment was used. Yet to this day, how Janet died and where her body was hidden remains a mystery Donald Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. Jurors heard, how after killing Janet, Ferrari-driving Graham set about defrauding his victim and her family to the tune of more than £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. During his trial it was revealed how he was eventually caught out. Janet's parents had intended their estates should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind if their only daughter died before them, the court heard. And it was explained how Graham was caught out when a Skipton Building Society clerk spotted a signature which did not match that of Janet's father. In fact Graham was posing as Mr Brown, a retired accountant, and was trying to shift money when the employee became suspicious and alerted the society's national fraud department, who began writing to their customer who was now, unknown to them, dead. Police were called in, and what started as a fraud investigation in 2009 turned into a murder hunt when officers became concerned about Janet's disappearance. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, following years of campaigning by Marie, whose daughter Helen was murdered on Merseyside in 1988, new legislation was introduced meaning that murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as "Helen's Law", places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. The law means Graham could die behind bars if he does not reveal where Janet's remains are. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Woods, who worked on the Northumbria Police investigation into Janet's murder, has previously told how unique the case was. "These cases are extremely rare. "My understanding is this is the only case Northumbria Police has had of somebody being convicted of murder when a body has not been found. It could have been the perfect murder, that no-one would known had taken place."
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Mystery over missing wife's body after husband pretended she was alive for years
Manipulative killer Donald Graham avoided justice for five years after the disappearance of his wealthy lover, Janet Brown, went un-investigated by Northumbria Police until a bank worker spotted fraudulent signatures on her account The murder of a wealthy woman by her greedy playboy boyfriend is still shrouded in mystery as police are yet to find her body two decades after the crime. Donald Graham murdered his well-off partner Janet Brown to get his hands on her money and even managed to fool detectives into believing she was still alive five years after taking her life - meaning cops failed to probe her disappearance until it was too late. Eventually, the law caught up with Graham and he was jailed for life for Janet's murder in what's thought to be Northumbria Police's only conviction without a body. Graham has repeatedly claimed to be innocent and he has feigned ignorance as to the manner of her death or the whereabouts of her body. Yesterday marked two decades since Janet - a highly independent woman and beloved daughter who loved travelling and animals - vanished without a trace. Campaigner Marie McCourt, 81, whose daughter's death in Merseyside led to her fighting for the introduction of "Helen's Law", told Chronicle Live: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families. 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' Janet came from a well-off family and had her own property development business, but she also did work on television as an extra and mystery shopper. The jetsetter loved being abroad and spent most of her free time solo travelling. Janet had been in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, who at Plane Trees Farm in Lowgate, near Hexham She vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when an eagled-eyed bank worker spotted something suspicious. The employee alerted police after spotting signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not quite match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. By analysing Janet's bank accounts detectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham, just days before the pair had been due to travel to France together on holiday. The last confirmed contact anyone had with Janet was on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog while she was away. Detectives believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18, however it would be some time before anyone knew she was dead. When Janet failed to turn-up for work on June 28 police were asked to go to her home to check she was ok, detectives have previously told the Chronicle. Her parents told officers they believed she had extended her holiday. With Janet gone Graham continued to plunder her bank accounts, while maintaining a pretence that she was still alive. He even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet and saying she had found a new job abroad. But when her parents died, in 2007 and 2008 Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010. Police carried out extensive searches of Janet's parent's house and Graham's property in a bid to find her remains. Specially trained Cadaver dogs, search experts, and ground penetrating radar equipment was used. Yet to this day, how Janet died and where her body was hidden remains a mystery Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. Jurors heard how after killing Janet Ferrari-driving Graham set about defrauding his victim and her family to the tune of more than £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. And during the trial it was revealed how he was eventually caught out. Janet's parents had intended their estates should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind if their only daughter died before them, the court heard. And it was explained how Graham was caught out when a Skipton Building Society clerk spotted a signature which did not match that of Janet's father. Graham was posing as Mr Brown, a retired accountant, and was trying to shift money when the employee became suspicious and alerted the society's national fraud department, who began writing to their customer who was now, unknown to them, dead. Police were called in, and what started as a fraud investigation in 2009 turned into a murder hunt when officers became concerned about Janet's disappearance. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, following years of campaigning by Marie whose daughter Helen was murdered on Merseyside in 1988, new legislation was introduced meaning that murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as 'Helen's Law' places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. The law means Graham could die behind bars if he does not reveal where Janet's remains are. Det Chief Insp Paul Woods, who worked on the Northumbria Police investigation into Janet's murder has previously told how unique the case was. "These cases are extremely rare. My understanding is this is the only case Northumbria Police has had of somebody being convicted of murder when a body has not been found. "It could have been the perfect murder, that no one would know had taken place."
