Sheree Black: Mum says baby's killer should never be released


Sheree Black, whose 14-week-old son Cameron was murdered by his father Ryan Leslie in 2008, has spoken out against Leslie’s potential release on parole. In 2011, Leslie was given a minimum 17-year life sentence for the murder, but he is due to be considered for parole soon. As a precondition for this consideration, Ms Black was asked to submit a victim impact statement. However, she has stated that she believes Leslie should never be released, given the severity of his crime.

Ms Black has argued that Leslie has shown no sign of remorse or admittance to the crime, and that she does not believe he has been rehabilitated. She has expressed disbelief at the possibility of his return to the community, claiming that “life should mean life.” However, Ms Black has also acknowledged the importance of the victim impact statement for the parole process, and said that it is “part of [her] healing journey.”

In addition to reflecting on her own experiences, Ms Black has spoken out about a broader need for victims to have a positive way to remember their children. She has connected with other women online whose children have been killed by their fathers or other family members and hopes to eventually create a community or platform for them. Ms Black recognizes that it can be difficult to address such traumatic experiences, but believes that it is necessary to focus on positive memory-building as part of the healing process.

A Department of Justice spokesperson has refused to comment on Leslie’s future, stating only that the Prison Service does not provide information on individual prisoners. The victim impact statement is an important part of the process for prisoners approaching the end of their minimum sentences, and is designed to ensure that the concerns of victims are fully considered. It remains to be seen what effect Ms Black’s statement will have on Leslie’s potential parole

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