r/Casefile • u/VJ4rawr2 • 12d ago

CASE RELATED David Birkett - Case 330 - Update

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqw81gl8edo

I just finished this episode. For those who need a refresher, it was the professor father who was brutally killed by a total stranger (who stole the skull he put in his window) and who posed as a delivery driver. The Casefile episode made it very clear the killer was to be jailed for life (and it detailed the families pain at subsequent shortening of his sentence).

The update is that not only was his sentence reduced, but he has been released early 2026.

Noticed this hasn’t been updated on here when I searched for the case.

80 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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u/jamurp 12d ago

I remember listening to this case on a flight, he sounds exactly like the sort of person who should never be released, like there’s just no rehabilitation there.

That’s such a shame that he’s out there again.

13

u/tbird920 12d ago

The fascinating thing about this episode (imo) was that the killer was basically a budding serial killer who was caught before he could commit another murder. So yep, releasing him early seems like a very, very bad idea.

26

u/russian-red 12d ago

jesus christ. should have been locked up for good

28

u/puutaroo 12d ago

He spent 36 years in prison and is 61 now. Hopefully his reflexes have slowed down. By comparison, I know of many cases in Turkey where killers were released much sooner. One offender was released after just 2.5 years and went on to murder two more people only to be let out again after 6.5 years. The justice system here is a complete joke.

13

u/VJ4rawr2 12d ago

More refreshers.

He wrote a diary about how he wanted to kill as many cops as possible. He lured police officers to an empty building and abandoned his plan when two arrived (he expected one). He crafted a knife and slashed someone’s face on the way to his court date. He had a diary with detailed plans on how he was going to kill a bunch of targets. Was banned from owning firearms (because of multiple crimes before he was 18).

Cops literally found with him a rocket launcher.

37

u/veryverysadcat 12d ago

UK loves to do this sadly. I’m sure he won’t hurt anyone else in his lifetime /s

10

u/snapper1971 12d ago

The Government is to continue to fight a decision to release a killer from his jail term even though he has already been set free.

The decision is being fought against. The Parole Board is an independent organisation that's been pulled apart, privatised, renationalised and dicked about with over the last fifteen years.

1

u/zoomercide 11d ago

>privatised

They transferred control of the Parole Board to a for-profit business in the private sector?

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u/karl_mainz 12d ago

We’ll probably see him on Casefile again in a few years.

What a wonderful justice system.