Glyn Powell, the last remaining member of the gang that murdered 16-year-old Suzanne Capper in 1992, has been directed for release by the Parole Board. Powell, now 58, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years for his role in the brutal killing. The other three killers have already been freed.
Suzanne Capper, from Moston, Manchester, was lured from her father's home by Jean Powell and Bernadette McNeilly in December 1992. Over seven days, she was subjected to horrific torture at a house on Langworthy Road, including having her head shaved, teeth pulled out with pliers, and being injected with amphetamines. She was then taken to woods in Stockport, doused in petrol, and set alight. She survived long enough to name her attackers.
Powell's accomplices—Jean Powell (now Gillespie), Bernadette McNeilly, and Anthony Dudson—were all convicted of murder and have since been released. Dudson was freed in 2013, McNeilly in 2015, and Gillespie in 2017. Powell remained in prison until the Parole Board's recent decision.
A Parole Board spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a panel of the parole board has directed the release of Glyn Powell following an oral hearing. 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.”
Suzanne's mother, Elizabeth Dunbar, and local MP Graham Stringer have campaigned against the killers' parole for decades. The Parole Board emphasised that protecting the public is its priority and that decisions are made after thorough review of evidence, including risk assessments and victim impact statements.
