Family fights to keep Linda Rizel's killer in prison under Helen's Law
The family of murdered Linda Rizel is campaigning to prevent her killer Glyn Rizel from being released on parole, citing Helen's Law which denies parole to killers who conceal the location of victims' bodies. The parole board decision is under review.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
More than two decades after Linda Rizel vanished on her way to work in Swindon, her family are back in court fighting to keep her killer behind bars. Glyn Rizel was convicted of her murder in 2003, but her body has never been found, and he has always refused to say what he did with it. Earlier this year, the parole board ruled that he could be released on licence. That decision is now being reviewed by the High Court after an appeal from the family and a referral by the Ministry of Justice.
The two day hearing began on Monday, with the court so full that an overflow court had to be opened. Glyn Rizel himself was in the courtroom. The family argue that his continued refusal to reveal where Linda's remains are is a form of coercive control that he is still exerting over them. They say he should not be freed until he tells them what he knows. The case is being seen as a test of Helen's Law, which requires the parole board to consider whether a prisoner has refused to disclose the location of a victim's body before deciding on release.
The parole board had previously refused Rizel release three times, but in April this year it decided that his imprisonment was no longer necessary to protect the public. It acknowledged that he had been violent and controlling towards his wife, and that many risk factors remained, but it said his behaviour in prison raised no significant concerns. The Ministry of Justice is challenging that decision, arguing that he has not done enough rehabilitation work and that any controls on his behaviour would be short term.
The family say they have been left in limbo for more than 20 years. Linda's daughter, Kate, said she had spent years trying not to think about her mother because it was too painful. She said the family just wanted to know where her mother was so they could lay her to rest. The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb, heard arguments from both sides and is expected to reserve her judgement, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.
The case has also drawn attention to the wider issue of offenders who conceal the bodies of their victims. Campaigners say that if a killer refuses to reveal where a body is, they should not be considered for release. The family have said that as long as he refuses to admit what he did, the impact of the crime continues to hurt them. Wiltshire Police say the case remains open and they are watching the court developments closely.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ministry of Justice referred the parole board's decision to the High Court for review after an appeal from the family. | |||
| The parole board decided it is safe for Glyn Rizel to be released despite acknowledging many risk factors remain. | |||
| A High Court judge will take weeks to determine whether Glyn Rosell should be released. | · | · | |
| Downing Street stated that exempting individual offenders from the early release scheme was not possible. | · | · | |
| Glyn Razzell was present in the courtroom during the hearing. | · | · | |
| Glyn Rizel was convicted of murdering his wife in 2002 and sentenced to life in 2003. | · | · | |
| Helen's Law requires the parole board to consider an offender's refusal to disclose the location of a victim's remains before release. | · | · | |
| The Prime Minister requested a plan from the Justice Secretary by September to free up prison space, including deporting foreign offenders and using the female prison estate. | · | · | |
| Two offenders, Albert Bowers and Jesse Cole, would have been eligible for release in January under the early release scheme. | · | · | |
| Wiltshire Police say the case remains open in their search for Linda. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 focused on the emotional impact on the family, particularly the daughter Kate, and framed the case as a test of Helen's Law. It highlighted the parole board's acknowledgment of risk factors but its decision to release anyway, and included strong quotes from the family about coercive control.
- “The coercive control that he exerted over my mother is he's continuing to exert over us from behind bars.”
- “That's not any kind of meaningful diminishing of risk. It's an insult, really.”
BBC ONE West focused on the High Court hearing itself, reporting that the court was full and that Glyn Rizel was present. It provided a straightforward update on the legal proceedings and the grounds for the Ministry of Justice's challenge, and mentioned the family's desire to know where Linda's body is.
- “What we would ultimately love to know is where our mother is, what he did with her body.”
- “But as long as he refuses to admit what he did with her and, by association, what he's done to us, the impact of that crime continues, continues, and radiates out to hurt people.”
ITV1 focused on the court appearance and the family's reaction, including a statement from the daughter after the hearing. It also highlighted the campaigners' anger and the fact that the case remains open with Wiltshire Police. The tone was more emotive, emphasising the family's ongoing ordeal.
- “Here is a man who has committed murder and refuses to say what he has done with the body and he is capable of telling people, therefore in my view, if you know where the body is and you won't tell people, why should you expect to progress through the system to freedom?”
- “My father committed murder. The parole board believes he committed coercive control. He denies guilt and will not tell us where our mother is. He has done nothing to address this. He is therefore a danger and women have good reason to feel less safe if he is released.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.