MURDERER Russell Causley is set to be re-released from prison following the UK’s first public parole hearing.

Causley was handed a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering his with Carole Packman, who disappeared in Bournemouth in 1985.

The 79-year-old was released from custody in 2020, after serving more than 23 years behind bars, but he ended up back incarcerated in November 2021 for breaking his licence conditions.

Causley appeared by remote link from HMP Lewes for the public Parole Board hearing on December 12 last year, with a further private hearing four days later.

The Parole Board published its decision – direction for re-release on parole licence – on Thursday, January 5.

Bournemouth Echo: Russell Causley and Carole PackmanRussell Causley and Carole Packman (Image: Gillingham family)

A summary of this outcome said: “After considering the circumstances of his offending and time on licence, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was satisfied that Mr Causley was suitable for release.”

The Parole Board panel considered more than 600 pages of material, as well as a victim personal statement from Ms Packman’s family.

The panel said Causley was a “self-confessed liar”, who had provided a series of accounts of the fate of his wife.

At the public hearing the offender maintained his innocence over the murder, although he said he burned his wife's body in his garden and disposed of the remains in hedgerows and along roadsides around Bournemouth.

When he committed his crimes, Causley’s risk factors included his ability to lie and deceive, his way of life, his use of power and control in relationships, his willingness to use violence to achieve his aims, his inability to manage conflict and his ruthless self-centred behaviour.

The Parole Board said Causley had done little in prison to address his risk factors but no behaviour concerns had been reported in custody and he had been employed in trusted roles.

The decision summary added: “The panel reviewed professional reports which identified a low risk of further offending and it was advised by the witnesses that Mr Causley would present a low risk of harm to the public, and that his level of risk could be managed by the proposed release plan.”

Bournemouth Echo: Russell CausleyRussell Causley

Causley’s release from custody is subject to the following conditions:

  • To comply with requirements to reside at a designated address, to be of good behaviour, to disclose developing relationships, and to report as required for supervision or other appointments
  • To submit to an enhanced form of supervision or monitoring including signing-in times, GPS tagging and a specified curfew
  • To comply with other identified limitations concerning contacts, activities, residency and an exclusion zone to avoid contact with victims
  • To meet specified restrictions relating to the use of electronic technology
  • To continue to work on addressing defined areas of risk in the community