The Parole Board has confirmed that Charles Bronson’s latest appeal for his release will proceed to an oral hearing in the coming months, where he may be invited to make his appeal for freedom.
This decision is a hopeful development for him. one of Britain’s longest serving people And the most notorious prisoner, it means a more thorough investigation into his eligibility for release is yet to come.
Bronson, 73, has been in custody for more than 50 years. He was first imprisoned in 1974 for armed robbery.
His sentence was later increased to life imprisonment due to repeated violence and hostage taking.
But after 12 years without a violent conviction, this will be his ninth attempt to seek parole.
In a letter to Sky News, Mr Bronson wrote: “I have been over duty for 23 years. I am forever denied progress. I am forever trapped in solitude. They won’t even take me out of Category A.”
He added: “This wrongful sentencing and treatment must be exposed. It has been going on for much longer now.” [sic] It has become a complete joke. ”
His latest review is considered “on paper”, with written evidence including reports from prison staff, psychologists and probation staff being assessed by the parole board.
However, the committee concluded this week that the case should proceed to an oral hearing, where the evidence should be directly examined and witnesses directly questioned. This hearing will allow the parole board to better assess Bronson’s current level of risk before determining whether he can be safely released into society.
The parole board may also decide that the best course of action is to move Mr. Bronson to an open prison and move him to a regular wing with other inmates for observation. Bronson has been kept in solitary confinement on and off for 23 hours a day for 37 years.
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Gurdeep Singh, a lawyer for Mr. Bronson (also known as Charles Salvador), called the move an important step.
“While Mr. Salvador is pleased with the fact that he has been able to proceed to a full trial, he is under no illusions. This is just the beginning of the fight for his release.”
“He wants to show the world that he is not who he used to be. He wants to convince the committee that he is a changed man who aims to live simply in the outside world. He has high hopes that he will be able to meet his 95-year-old mother this year.”
Mr. Bronson will be invited to attend the hearing in person and is expected to have the opportunity to address the committee in person and respond to concerns about his actions and future plans if released.
The parole board granted Mr Bronson a public oral hearing in 2023, during which he said: “It’s no secret that I’ve eaten more porridge than Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough. I want to go home.”
We understand that he had applied for this year’s parole proceedings to be heard in public, but that request was refused. However, as the case has now moved to the oral hearing stage, he may seek that request again.
A date for the public hearing has not yet been set.