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The woman lawyer who wants to FREE the Yorkshire Ripper...because 'his human rights have been breached'
Last updated at 08:52am on 16.05.08
Saimo Chahal: Believes the serial killer, now 61, has been misrepresented
Peter Sutcliffe, who butchered 13 women and tried to kill seven more between 1975 and 1980, believes he is sane and should be released from Broadmoor top security hospital.
He is being represented by a female lawyer, who argues that the Home Office disregarded his human rights because it failed to fix a tariff for his sentence.
Saimo Chahal believes the serial killer, now 61, who smashed his victims over the head before mutilating them, has been misrepresented.
When Sutcliffe was sentenced to 20 life sentences in 1981, he was told by the judge that he would serve a minimum of 30 years. Home Secretaries have subsequently said he should never be released.
But Miss Chahal, who specialises in civil liberties and social welfare as a partner at London-based Bindmans & Partners, believes this tariff was never formalised.
Sutcliffe began his sentence at Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight but three years later was diagnosed with schizophrenia and transferred to Broadmoor Hospital.
Freedom bid: Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, is challenging his sentence
Miss Chahal intends to argue Sutcliffe's case in stages.
First she aims to get him back into the prison system and has requested a reassessment of his psychiatric condition.
A profile of Miss Chahal on the firm's website confirms that she acts for Sutcliffe adding: "The Secretary of State is in breach of Article Five of the [European Court of Human Rights] in failing to set a tariff."
Miss Chahal was named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in a 2006 poll for "repeatedly pushing the boundaries of the law on behalf of those with mental illness".
According to a report on legal website the Black Lawyers Directory, Sutcliffe's case was referred to Miss Chahal by another solicitor because she "takes on difficult cases".
The report said: "For Saimo this case raises the issue of how we treat mentally ill people who have committed heinous crimes.
"She is concerned that there is a huge amount of public information about this case that is simply untrue."
Sources said she is confident of securing Sutcliffe's release by 2011.
Olive Smelt, who survived Sutcliffe attacking her with a hammer as she returned to her Halifax home after a night out in 1975, declined to comment.
But her husband Harry said: "He didn't give the victims many human rights did he?
"I'm too old to be appalled. I just find it irritating.
"It is water off a duck's back as far as Olive is concerned.
"When you reach a certain age all that matters is waking up in the morning, putting your feet on the floor and getting on with it."
He added: "He's where he belongs and that's it.
"I don't think he should be locked up in Broadmoor, it should be a normal prison."
Sutcliffe mainly killed prostitutes in the streets of northern England.
While he was at liberty many women in Yorkshire and Manchester were too frightened to go out.
After six years he was arrested by chance in a red light area of Sheffield.
In 2001, Sutcliffe claimed that psychiatrists at Broadmoor now consider he is no longer a danger.
The Legal Services Commission said Sutcliffe had not been awarded legal aid to pay for his freedom bid.
A senior police source said: "His legal action will be fiercely opposed by the authorities.
"He remains a grave danger to the public, especially if he does not take appropriate medication.
"He should remain behind bars for the rest of his life."
Reader views (21)
As long as he can live with her on a island once he is out, I'm OK with letting him out then for once in his life he may do some good!
- Mark A. Lack, Calgary Canada
I' sick of hearing about 'human rights' for murdering low-lifes. What human right did they afford their victims and their families? He's robbed them of their future their loved ones. He should be locked up for life - or better still put out of his misery. Equally Chalal should find herself more deserving cases requiring legal aid - unfortunately that wont happen.
- Barbara, Sydney, Australia
Austen's post is the only one here that is even slightly reasonable. The government can stop this now by setting a tarrif, and Ms Chahal, as an Officer of the Court, is obliged to represent Sutcliffe to the best of her ability, regardless of whether she wants to take the case or not. She is not a 'do gooder'; she is a professional.
- Abc, London, UK
Great. Take him out of mental health care and put him back in prison. Leave it to the inmates to ensure justice is delivered. Taste of his own medicine no doubt.
- Samantha, London UK
How about the Home Secretary releasing him into prison and setting a tariff of 30 years for each murder this filthy scum has perpetrated? I'd quite like to see how he manages to stay alive in prison.
- Lmd, London
Nothing like trying to make a name for yourself is there?
- Pete, London, UK
These kind of do gooders have been the downfall of our country.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Human rights? He isn't human and he has forfeited all his rights. How long will you give him if the public can get at him?
- Norman, Oakham UK
Has the whole world gone mad? Its really simple... if you take a life in the way he did then you have no rights. This so called lawyer can take her case as far as she wants as long as we, (the public) don’t have to fund it, I for one am fed up with accommodating the few awful people in this world who seem to have all the rights. For example at my 7 year old sons school play I was told photography and video would not be permitted for fear of exposure to paedophiles, and our school was not the only one. I have an idea... how about we lock up the bad guys so that the good guys can have a normal family life?
- Steve Mcdonald, Worthing
God save us from liberal minded do-gooders. Perhaps Chahal would like to represent the families of those Sutcliffe killed as he breached their human rights
If Chahal succeeds in getting him released, I trust that she will become his parole officer and will take full responsibility the next time he murders some young woman.
- Marc, Harrow, UK
Solicitor looking for lucrative work me thinks. I'm fed up of reading about these legal aid cases, everything I get I've worked for and paid for. Criminals put before the needs of their victims! I'd like to see Sutcliff in prison, a prison where he is not wrapped up in cotton wool. He should face his peers, and be treated the same as any other criminal. I think he should never be free, but I'll leave that to people with better brains than I have. If he is freed, the should face the jeers of the public, no sneaking out, he should walk out the prison gate, just the same as the next man. He'd then consider himself their equal, so let him face them as their equal! Our prisons are full because too many people don't want to leave prison, after all they are all found, they want for nothing. All prisoners should be doing hard labour, and that includes Peter Sutcliff! We now have a listening government, I hope we have, listen to what I have just written Mr Brown, and do something about it!
- Rayb, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Sutcliffe surrendered his entitlement to any human rights when he removed his victims' human rights to live. He should never see the light of day again.
Ms Chahal is obviously a publicity-seeker for her own ends. It will do her no good.
- Yvonne Jones, Doncaster, UK
"Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year" Why am I not surprised at this?
There should be something in place to prevent these lawyers getting onto the 'Legal Aid' gravy train at the taxpayers expense. OK, in this case Sutcliffe allegedly has not been granted legal aid - yet.
The fact is that there are better things that the Government can spend our money on than representing and defending cases relevant to a piece of dirt like Sutcliffe.
- Martin Bown, South Normanton, Derbyshire
Don't blame her for making a few quid! Blame those who incorporated the Human Rights Act into English law. At the forthcoming election, identify the party with a manifesto to abolish this legislation - and vote for it!
- Roy Gil, Solihull, England.
Great publicity for her.
Makes one wonder though does she have any morals representing a guy that's caused so much harm to so many women?
He didn't care about their human rights, so why would the public now care about his?
Ridiculous.
- Anon, London
He could be released into the personal care of his solicitor, perhaps with a tether to her, so she could accommodate all his human rights personally
- Mike, manchetster
I still fail to see how anyone who so viciously takes one human life let alone the amount the Ripper has should have any Human Rights. Prison is too good for him, why not tell him he´s free to go but he´s not getting a new identity or housing provided in any area he wants and see how quick he wants out!
- Chris Stevens, Fuengirola, Spain
Chahal is making a desperate attempt to further her career using taxpayer's money and should be ashamed of herself. Ignore her - don't give her any publicity and let's hope that the world realises how selfish and immoral she is, as well as her total lack of integrity and respect for not only the population as a whole, but for the families of Sutcliffe's victims. Nasty and low - I hope she's proud because nobody else is.
- We, Kent
Infringed/breached his human rights eh?
What about the human rights of the women he murdered?
- Sara Ancill, Dartford, Kent UK
How much does she charge per hour and which mug will be paying for it?
Oh that's right: the Tax Payer!
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Please can we call off the dogs attacking the Human Rights Act, and start defending it instead. Peter Sutcliffe's took away his victims' human rights to life. To prevent further such crimes, he should be locked up until / unless it becomes safe - for us - to release him. If the Home Office breached his human rights by failing to set a tariff, they can take care of that right now, simply by formalising his 30 year minimum sentence.
- Austen, London
