The widow of murdered headteacher Philip Lawrence has branded the justice system “perverse” after it was revealed that her husband’s killer is being prepared for release from prison.
Frances Lawrence said she would write to the Government calling for victims of serious crimes to be given more information about where convicted criminals are being held.
She spoke out after it emerged that convicted killer Learco Chindamo was spotted at a college in Birmingham where he is taking a construction course alongside unsuspecting students, during day release from jail. It is believed 33-year-old Chindamo could soon be resettled back in the community.
He stabbed Mr Lawrence, 48, to death in 1995 as the headmaster tried to protect one of his pupils, who was being attacked at the gates of St George’s RC School in Maida Vale.
Today Mrs Lawrence, from Ham near Richmond, said she felt like a “second- class citizen” after being left in the dark over Chindamo’s whereabouts.
She said: “Victims are not allowed to know criminals’ whereabouts which is grossly insulting apart from everything else.
“The only reason for me not being told presumably is because I am some kind of threat to him which I find is actually defamation of character.
“I am being treated as a second-class citizen which I am really cross about. It’s really rather perverse that I have to find out from a newspaper.”
History teacher Mrs Lawrence, who was awarded an MBE for her charity work with young people, will write to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling calling for victims to be given more information about convicted criminals.
Chindamo was first freed on parole in 2012 after serving 14 years for murdering Mr Lawrence.
But Chindamo, who was 15 at the time of the killing, was back behind bars four months later for breaking the conditions of his release.
His trips to Birmingham’s South and City College show probation chiefs are preparing him for freedom.
Mrs Lawrence said her own son could have enrolled at the college for the same course and he would not have known until he shared a classroom with his father’s killer.
An independent parole board will decide if Chindamo can be released from Hewell Prison near Redditch in Worcestershire.
Chindamo, who was born in Italy, avoided being deported back there on human rights grounds after being freed last year.
The Prison Service said: “Offenders who have been thoroughly risk-assessed may apply for day release to assist with resettlement into the community.”
