THE grandson of Russell Causley has urged residents to consider how they feel about the prospect of the murderer moving in next door to them after he was granted parole.

Causley killed his wife Carole Packman in 1985 and has continually refused to reveal what he did with his victim’s remains.

He has changed his account over what happened in Bournemouth 35 years ago several times. He has twice been convicted of murdering Mrs Packman, in 1996 and 2004, and is serving a life sentence.

On Tuesday, the Parole Board assessed Causley as being suitable for release.

However, his grandson Neil Gillingham, who has campaigned against the 78-year-old being granted parole for several years, said he will appeal this decision.

Bournemouth Echo: Neil GillinghamNeil Gillingham

Mr Gillingham told the Daily Echo: “It has been a long, arduous journey. We started this parole hearing process in 2014. My grandfather first became eligible in 2012.

“I am six years into this in terms of my campaigning, I am six years into asking the government to do something and we are 35 years in terms of when my grandmother was murdered and went missing.

“These are all important and poignant dates because this has been going on and we are still no further forward than what we were in 1996 and 2004. We are still in the same situation or effectively we are in a worse situation.”

He added: “If I put the cold hard facts of our situation to 100 people, what would the response be? Why is it the case that the Parole Board can say that their decision is rationale but the lay person, who has to mingle with my grandfather in the future, will refute the decision.

“The question to ask people is how do you feel about possibly having this person living next to you? He is not going to move in next door to me, but he will move in next door to someone.”

In a summary of its decision, the Parole Board said Causley will be subject to a number of licence conditions, including living at a designated address and enhanced supervision including electronic tagging and a curfew.

Bournemouth Echo: Russell CausleyRussell Causley

“I refuse the decision that has been made,” said Mr Gillingham.

“If I am unsuccessful in appealing, they will release Russell and he is going to be coming to a house near you.”

Mr Gillingham said the parole decision surprised him based on the “rationale” behind it but admitted in some ways it was not a shock.

“We are running out of options,” he said. “The government accepted that the situation we and other families were in was intolerable and unacceptable and change was needed – that is how the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill came about. It is a law with no teeth.

“This will continue to happen until the government put something in place to stop this event from repeating itself.”

He added: “Thank you to everybody who over the past four decades who has supported us, the people of Bournemouth, the people of Dorset and the people of the south.

"I hope they will stand united with us and show their disgust at this decision.”