After his second parole application was denied, a cab driver who fatally burned his pregnant girlfriend, her sister who has a disability, and their mother will remain behind bars.
21 years ago, Azhar Ali Mehmood, now 47, was given a life sentence for setting fire to a property in Telford in August 2000.
16-year-old Lucy Lowe, her sister, 17, and mother, Eileen Linda Lowe, 49, were all killed in the incident.
The Parole Board claimed that the public risk was the reason it had rejected the application.
The fact that Mehmood, who was 26 at the time of the murders, must remain in a closed prison and cannot move to an open jail was also disclosed.
We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board rejected Azhar Mehmood’s parole after an oral hearing, according to a Parole Board representative.
‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
‘Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
‘It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’
‘Under current legislation he will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.’
