Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, is backing a public petition 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 by Jim McMahon MP for Oldham West and Royton on Debbie’s behalf as she’s in 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 sentenced to life imprisonment, set at a minimum 15 years for her brutal murder on May 3, 1998.
The former Kaskenmoor School student was murdered at Stowers’ home on Hollins Road and her body dismembered in a bath. Her body parts were then put outside in bags with the rubbish. Police were unable to identify what ended her short life.
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 Jim 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.”
