A FIEND sentenced to the same sentence as schizophrenic triple murderer Valdo Calocana has been freed – after just two years.
Humphrey Burke was given an indefinite hospital order for kicking prison van attendant Lorraine Barwell to death.
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Humphrey Burke, pictured by The Sun in a grocery store, was released after just two yearsCredit: Simon Jones
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Humphrey Burke given indefinite hospital order for punching Lorraine Barwell to death Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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Burke took Lorraine down with one kick and then delivered another that shattered her jaw, causing her brain to bleed. Credit: Collection
Like Calocane’s case, the court allowed Lorraine’s family to believe that the monster would never be let out.
But Burke, 30, was pictured by The Sun in the shop and working out in a packed gym after officers declared him fit to be released.
The psychiatric hospital sentence came after prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
This meant that, like Nottingham knife killer Calocane, he avoided a full jury trial on murder charges.
Burke’s release pointed to legal loopholes that could put Calocane back on the streets.
Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by Calocane, 32, in Nottingham last June.
Barnaby’s mum Emma, speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, insisted: “It’s enough to put the fear of God into us, that this Calocana monster could be out there one day.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s three years, or even 20 or 30 years, he should never, ever be let out.
“We strongly challenge the manslaughter conviction and it basically reaffirms everything we feared all along.”
The families of the victims said they were “very upset” when they heard the news.
Burke attacked grandmother Lorraine, 54, in 2015 as she escorted him from a cell at London’s Blackfriars Crown Court, where he was due to be sentenced for the hammer attack at Ladbrokes bookmaker.
He knocked her down with one kick, then delivered another that shattered her jaw, causing a brain hemorrhage.
The Serca worker died in hospital two days later from catastrophic brain injuries.
Burke was considered mentally unfit to stand trial at the time and was sent to Broadmoor for treatment after the trial found that he had caused Lorraine’s death.
But by 2022 he was well enough to plead guilty to manslaughter with reduced responsibility at the Old Bailey. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital stay in a medium security facility.
Under sentencing guidelines, people held in such units can be considered for release at a specified time if they show improvement in their mental state.
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Prison van guard dies in hospital two days after attack from catastrophic brain injuriesCredit: Andrew Styczynski
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Murderer Humphrey Burke Walking Unsupervised Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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Lorraine’s family expected Burke to be behind bars for lifeCredit: Simon Jones
Burke’s release would be approved by a clinician, which would also be the starting point for Calocane – who must also get secondary approval from the commission or the justice minister.
Lorraine’s family expected Burke to be behind bars for life, but officers let him roam unsupervised after just 24 months.
He was seen buying snacks at Sainsbury’s and the Co-op in Oxford and even attending training sessions at a boxing gym.
Lorraine’s brother Paul Kirkley, 53, gushed: “We thought Burke would never be let out but here he is.
“How can Burke brand my sister to death and just be out in the supermarket and going to the gym years later like nothing happened?
“We wanted a conviction for murder at the time and look what happened. As soon as they decrease [responsibility verdict]they live comfortably.
“It’s not justice for my sister. Lorraine deserved better. The safety of the people working in her position must be sacred. Prisoners must perceive them as untouchable.”
Health worker Paul added: “It’s the same with the poor families of those Nottingham victims – they are rightly furious about what happened. Now they will see it and live in fear that the monster that kidnapped their family will be back on the streets in years.
“Like us, they were told he would never be free, but look what happened. My message to those families is to keep pushing, push for the punishment he deserves.
“Keep fighting for justice – because if you see Calocans shopping in Sainsbury’s in three years time, you will be sick.
“It will break your heart, as if your loved ones died in vain.
“This sends a message to people that they can commit murder and there is a way out. We all know what to say, to make it easier for them to get out. These killers are making a mockery of the system.”
At the time of Burke’s sentencing, Lorraine’s family exploded: “We will never accept manslaughter – we will always accept it as murder.”
Her daughter said: “Humphrey Burke will never be able to understand the damage done to my mum or my family. No punishment will ever be enough to make up for the loss we have suffered.
“He still took his life. He has not – and should not – be allowed to forget it, as we never will.”
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Burke’s release would be approved by a clinicianCredit: PA: Press Association
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Burke received the same sentence as schizophrenic triple murderer Valdo CalocaneCredit: PA
Calocane was last week sentenced to an indefinite stay at Ashworth, a high-security hospital.
The families of his victims claimed they were “coerced” into accepting his mild manslaughter charge.
There are seven ongoing reviews related to Calocane’s case.
The state attorney’s office is investigating whether his sentence was too lenient and prosecutors’ decision to accept manslaughter charges.
There are also two reviews at the mental health trust treating Calocane, two referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and a Police College review.
A Justice Department spokesman said the matter was up to the mental health foundation treating Burke to comment.
A spokesman for mental health trust Oxford Health said: “Due to the confidentiality of patient information, we do not comment on or confirm the identity of those in our care.
“However, we can say that if we care for a person because they are placed in a mental health service, rather than because of a prison sentence, they can spend some of their therapeutic time in the community, rather than being in a ward all the time.”
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Source: HIS Education