'I didn't know dad's killer was walking streets'

THE family of a murdered pensioner were not warned his killer had been freed from jail until they discovered he had robbed another elderly man.

Christopher Roche served 17 years behind bars for the murder of "gentleman" Jim Maloney in 1994.

Roche – who had committed a string of terrifying attacks against elderly people – has now been given a 14-year prison sentence for robbing and attacking a 73-year-old man.

Now, Mr Maloney's family are calling for improvements to be made to the criminal justice system after revealing they did not even know Roche had been released.

The first they knew about it was when the Mail reported details of Roche's latest attack.

Mr Maloney's daughter, Sheila Petrini, of east Hull, said: "Reading the story in the Mail was like hitting a brick wall.

"I was in the shop and just happened to glance down and saw Roche staring back at me. I thought I was going to pass out.

"All the family are asking why we were not told about this. We had no idea he had been released, never mind committing another offence.

"But we don't want to criticise Humberside Police too much.

"They were fabulous at the time when dad was killed.

"But I feel, maybe, the system should be changed so victims, like us, can be kept informed when the likes of Roche is released from jail. That is the only support we ask for."

Mrs Petrini revealed her daughter, Mr Maloney's grand-daughter, could easily have bumped into Roche as she lived in the street where the latest attack occurred.

Mrs Petrini said: "My daughter was living in Nornabell Street shortly before this attack happened, so it shows how small a place Hull is. My daughter rang the police and they apologised."

The family of Mr Maloney now hope Roche will never be freed.

Mrs Petrini said: "He should not have been released until he was too old to hurt anybody.

"We were told when he was sentenced for my dad's murder that life would mean life but this was obviously not the case.

"We just haven't had any closure on this.

"Once he was released, it was a tragedy waiting to happen.

"He was only 43 years old and someone like him doesn't change."

Mrs Petrini says the family will never get over her dad's death.

She said: "We have mental scars and this has opened the wound up again.

"My heart goes out to the latest victim and his family."

Judge Mark Bury, who sentenced Roche to 14 years last week, said he will probably spend the rest of his life behind bars.

In the latest attack, Roche put a black bin liner over his head before grabbing his victim, who was trying to padlock his door inside the block of flats in Nornabell Street. Roche escaped with the man's wallet.

Roche was arrested and recalled to prison as part of the condition of his life licence after the robbery on December 13, last year.

In 1994, Roche asphyxiated Mr Maloney, probably with a pillow, during a burglary at his home in Preston Road. He escaped with just £45.

Mr Maloney, described as a "perfect gentleman," was found dead on his sofa by wife Eileen.

The murder was the culmination of a crime spree by Roche, during which he repeatedly targeted elderly people.

Mervyn Bishop, divisional manager for Humberside Victim Support, believes Mr Maloney's family should have been told about Roche's release.

He said: "It is a fact of our criminal justice system that offenders are released back into the community, even those convicted of homicide.

"In this case, the murder victim's next of kin should have been informed about Roche's release.

"It is very distressing for everyone concerned but we can't comment on why this didn't happen."

Mr Bishop also hopes lesson can be learnt regarding the decision to release Mr Roche.

He said: "This makes you wonder whether the judicial system is suitable. Was this just a punishment or was there any rehabilitation involved? If there was, it didn't work."