'Life should mean life' - petition demanding Liane's killer should be refused parole presented to House of Commons

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams is backing a public petition to the House of Commons which is demanding that Paul Stowers, who murdered Oldham teenager Liane Singleton in 1998, should be refused parole.

The petition was presented to the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday) by fellow Oldham MP Jim McMahon on Mrs Abrahams' behalf as she continues her recovery from a hip operation.

Liane’s parents, Gordon and Jacky Singleton, have started the petition because her killer is applying for parole 20 years after being convicted of her brutal murder.

On May 3, 1998, 18-year-old former Kaskenmoor School pupil Liane was brutally murdered and dismembered by Stowers.

Her body parts were then put outside a property on Hollins Road in Hollinwood in bags with the rubbish.

Her head was shattered with a monkey wrench, she was strangled, and her body was stamped on so hard, her liver was virtually split in two.

Such were the severity of Liane’s injuries, Police were unable to identify what ended her short life.

Stowers later pleaded guilty to Liane’s murder and was given a life sentence in December, 1998, which was set at a minimum just 15 years.

Stowers, who claimed in court to suffer from a personality disorder, never revealed his motive for the horror killing.

Stowers has not been released and is approaching 20 years in prison.

Mrs Abrahams, who has helped the family organise the public petition, said: “After having met Gordon and Jacky and listening to the details of the terrible trauma they and their family have been through I’m doing everything I can to help them keep Liane’s killer behind bars.

“The police said at the time that this man would remain a danger to women for the rest of his life so we have to do everything we can to make sure that he doesn’t get the chance to harm anyone else.”

Liane’s father, Gordon, said: “We’re grateful to Debbie for her help with bringing this issue to the attention of the Government because as a family we’ve been haunted by the judge’s decision to only give Stowers 15 years.

"His crime was so brutal we firmly believe that, in his case, life really should mean life.

“As we’ve stated in the petition we strongly believe Stowers should remain behind bars for the good of society and to protect other parents and families from having to go through the torture and heartbreak that we’ve had to endure for the last 20 years.”

Referring to Mr McMahon presenting the petition on her behalf, Mrs Abrahams said: “We’re all really grateful to Jim for stepping in and helping us out with the presentation of the petition to Parliament as I’m still in recovery from my hip operation and unable to travel to London.”

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