VICTORIA CLIMBIE KILLER WILL NOT BE RELEASED
Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000 by her great aunt Marie Therese Kouao and her partner Manning in one of Britain's worst child abuse cases.Manning, now in his 50s, was eligible for parole having been given a minimum 21-year sentence, but following a hearing on 11 September the board made the decision not to release him from jail or to move him to open prison.
In a decision summary, the board said having looked at the evidence it "was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public".
Manning was handed a minimum term of 21 years for the murder and eight years for child cruelty to run concurrently.
The latest hearing was his third review for release after the Parole Board refused requests in 2021 and 2023.
The panel heard that Manning "consistently declined" to co-operate with professional assessments in prison, and officials believed there was not enough known about the murderer and what "caused him to behave and think as he did".
The summary added that he had completed accredited programmes in prison to address his decision making and use of violence.
The panel considered the cruelty, abuse, and neglect suffered by Victoria, leading to her death, noting a sadistic element and many gaps in understanding his risk due to lack of professional assessments.
Victoria's death led to a major public inquiry and safeguarding initiatives including a national action plan launched in 2012.
Manning will be eligible for another parole review in about two years.
