{{Short description|1985 murder case in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Carole Packman | image = | caption = | birth_date = c. 1945 | birth_name = Veronica Anne Thornton | birth_place = UK | death_date = June 1985 (aged 40) | occupation = Engineer | spouse = Russell Causley | children = 1 | known_for = Victim of murder }}
'''Veronica Anne Packman''' (née '''Thornton''', c. 1945 – June 1985), known as '''Carole Packman''', was a 40-year-old British woman who disappeared from her home in Bournemouth, England in June 1985.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Williets |title=The murder of Carole Packman, killed by husband Russell Causley, to feature on TV show |date=21 September 2021 |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19593055.russel-causley-murder-death-carole-packman-feature-tv-show/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |work=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Her husband, Russell Causley (né Packman),<ref>{{cite news |date=22 March 2004 |title=Missing wife 'killed by husband' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/3558721.stm |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=BBC News}}</ref> was found guilty of her murder, but her body has never been found.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=30 November 2021|title=Murderer who refused to reveal where he hid wife's body back in jail |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/30/carole-packman-killer-who-refused-to-reveal-where-he-hid-wifes-body-back-in-jail-15686661/ |access-date=14 August 2022|website=Metro |language=en}}</ref>
On 12 December 2022, Causley had the first public parole hearing in British history.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2022 |first=Andrew |last=Goldman |title=Killer says he burned wife's body and 'disposed of remains in hedgerows around town' |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23186462.murderer-russell-causley-speak-public-parole-hearing/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Samantha Gillingham, the couple's daughter who has campaigned for years to keep her father in prison, called the decision to hold a public hearing "momentous".<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no byline--> |title='There isn't a more deserving person for this than her. She needs this' |date=21 September 2022 |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/22321588.russell-causley-first-public-parole-board-hearing/ |access-date=21 September 2022|website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2023 the Parole Board concluded that Causley should be released again and he left prison in February that year, subject to release licence conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-28 |title=My father Russell Causley killed mum in 1985 – he still won't say where she is |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64430736 |access-date=2023-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bournemouth murderer Russell Causley released from prison |date=15 February 2023 |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23323987.bournemouth-murderer-russell-causley-released-prison/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
== Disappearance ==
Carole Packman disappeared from the family home in Bournemouth in June 1985. After her husband, Russell Causley, was caught faking his death off the coast of Guernsey as part of an insurance scam in 1993, he was convicted and jailed for fraud in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 September 2020|title=Convicted murderer who faked own death near Guernsey freed from jail |url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2020-09-09/convicted-murderer-who-faked-own-death-near-guernsey-freed-from-jail |access-date=14 August 2022|website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref> After the trial, Dorset Police re-investigated the disappearance of Packman.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 September 2020|title=UK man who murdered wife to be freed despite refusal to reveal location of body |url=http://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/sep/08/russell-causley-murdered-wife-carole-packman-to-be-freed-refusal-reveal-location-body |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
== Trial ==
Causley was convicted of her murder on 18 December 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 16 years.
Despite the absence of any body or forensic evidence, the prosecution sought to convince the jury: that Carole Packman was no longer alive; that she had been murdered; and that her husband was the killer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 March 2004|title=Daughter cries for missing mother |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/3565095.stm |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Husband jailed again for murder">{{Cite news |date=2 April 2004|title=Husband jailed again for murder |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/3589561.stm |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref>
== Appeal and re-conviction ==
Causley appealed against his conviction in 1998, but the conviction was upheld. In June 2003, his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal following another appeal, and the judge ordered a retrial. At his retrial in 2004, he was once again found guilty of murder.<ref name="Husband jailed again for murder"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Killer who never said where he hid wife's body is sent back to jail |url=https://guernseypress.com//news/uk-news/2021/11/29/killer-who-never-said-where-he-hid-wifes-body-taken-back-to-jail/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=guernseypress.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Subsequent events ==
Russell Causley became eligible for parole in 2012. After several hearings, he was eventually granted parole in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 September 2020 |first=Toby |last=Wadey |title=Carole Packman murder: Russell Causley granted parole|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-54071090 |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> Packman's grandson, Neil Gillingham, spoke out against the decision as "Helen's Law" was passing through parliament during the review.<ref>{{cite episode |title='My Grandmother's Killer Shouldn't Be Freed Until He Tells Us Where Her Body Is' |date=11 September 2020 |series=This Morning |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgqRvDssaCg |language=en |access-date=14 August 2022 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Packman's daughter Samantha Gillingham has urged Causley throughout the years to reveal the location of her mother's body. Samantha Gillingham initially made calls in the media for a "no body, no parole" law in 2010, two years before Causley became eligible for parole.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dorset woman tells of 25-year agony of mother's disappearance |date=11 June 2010 |first=Joanna |last=Codd |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8215707.dorset-woman-tells-of-25-year-agony-of-mothers-disappearance/ |access-date=2 September 2022|work=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
Neil Gillingham was critical of the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020<ref>{{cite legislation UK |date=4 November 2020 |type=act |act=Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020 |Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020 |year=2020 |chapter=19 |mode=cs1}}</ref> legislation being passed through parliament and claimed it had been "watered down". Neil went further to say that in practice the law changes would not prevent convicted murderers from being freed despite their unwillingness to cooperate with the authorities. Various articles appeared in national press in January 2020, in which Neil Gillingham described "Helen's Law" as "a law with no teeth".<ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 2020 |title='No body, no parole' law fought for by murder victims' families 'has no teeth' |first=Claudia |last=Tanner |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/real-life/helens-law-murder-killer-parole-iam-simms-mccourt-carole-packman-386441}}</ref> This was later reiterated by Joshua Rozenberg in November 2020 in a blog post titled "A law that makes no difference".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rozenberg.substack.com/p/a-law-that-makes-no-difference|title=A law that makes no difference|website=A Lawyer Writes|first=Joshua|last=Rozenberg|date=5 November 2020 |accessdate=January 5, 2023}}</ref>
In December 2020, the CEO of the Parole Board, Martin Jones, reinforced Neil Gillingham’s earlier warnings in a Sky News interview.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tom |last=Gillespie |date=23 December 2020 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/killers-who-refuse-to-reveal-where-they-hid-victims-body-could-still-be-freed-after-helens-law-12170856 |title=Killers who refuse to reveal where they hid victim's body could still be freed after Helen's Law |work=Sky News |accessdate=2023-01-28}}</ref>
In December 2021, Causley was returned to prison after breaching his licence conditions.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Carole Packman murderer Russell Causley returned to jail over licence breach |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no byline--> |date=1 December 2021 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-12-01/carole-packmans-murderer-returned-to-jail-after-breach-of-licence-conditions |access-date=14 August 2022|website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref> In January 2022, it was reported that he had been referred to the Parole Board once again.<ref>{{cite web |title=Murderer Russell Causley referred to Parole Board again |date=14 January 2022 |first=Andrew |last=Goldman |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19846133.murderer-russell-causley-referred-parole-board/ |access-date=14 August 2022|website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> The hearing date was originally set for October 2022 following referral from Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 September 2022 |first=Toby |last=Wadey |title=Wife-killer faces UK's first public parole hearing |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-62807664 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Parole hearing dates set for murderer Russell Causley |date=30 June 2022 |first=Andrew |last=Goldman |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20230755.parole-hearing-dates-set-murderer-russell-causley/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> The hearing date was given to the ''Bournemouth Daily Echo'' before Packman's family was notified, for which the Ministry of Justice apologised.<ref>{{cite news |title=MoJ 'deeply sorry' after murderer's parole dates given to paper before family |date=3 August 2022 |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/national/20597516.moj-deeply-sorry-murderers-parole-dates-given-paper-family/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |work=Glasgow Times |agency=AP |language=en}}</ref>
The BBC revealed on 4 August 2022 that Causley had been recalled to prison for "temporarily losing touch with authorities".<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 August 2022 |first=Toby |last=Wadey |title=Carole Packman murder: Freed wife-killer 'lost touch' with authorities |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-62409057 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> Causley was imprisoned at HM Prison Lewes.<ref name=":0" />
The original public parole hearing date was postponed due to "concerns the prisoner's safety was at risk".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-03 |first=Toby |last=Wadey |title=Carole Packman murder: New date set for first public parole hearing |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-63501579 |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref> The day before the scheduled public hearing, it was announced that the Parole Board was adjourned due to compelling evidence that Causley’s release address had been leaked publicly.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 October 2022 |title=Killer Russell Causley's public parole hearing delayed over 'safety fears' |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23020608.russell-causley-public-parole-hearing-delayed-safety/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Warburton |first=Dan |date=26 August 2017 |title=Daughter's plea to killer dad over 30-year mystery of her mum's murder |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/daughters-plea-killer-dad-tries-11059819 |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=Daily Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite BAILII |litigants=R v Causley |year=2003 |court=EWCA |division=Crim |num=1840 |date=5 June 2003 |access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref>
On 12 December 2022, Causley attended a Parole Board hearing at which he admitted responsibility for his wife's murder. The hearing was the first in England and Wales to be held in public.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-63943186 |first=Toby |last=Wadey |title=Carole Packman murder: Russell Causley admits covering up wife's death|work=BBC News |date=12 December 2022|accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> On 5 January 2023, the Parole Board concluded that he should be released again.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-64179428|title=Carole Packman murder: Russell Causley to be released from prison|work=BBC News |date=5 January 2023|accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> Justice Secretary Dominic Raab was considering whether to appeal the Parole Board's decision, but it was later announced by the Ministry of Justice that there were no legal grounds to do so.<ref name=":2" /> Causley was released from prison in February that year, subject to licence conditions that stipulate where he lives, who he contacts and also restrict his activities; he will be recalled to prison if he fails to comply with his release conditions.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Flora |date=15 February 2023 |title=Murderer Russell Causley freed from jail |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/dominic-raab-bournemouth-ministry-of-justice-hmp-lewes-government-b2282849.html |access-date=20 March 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
== Media coverage ==
The case was covered ITV's crime series ''The Investigator: A British Crime Story'' in 2016.<ref name="Jefferies2">{{cite web |last1=Jefferies |first1=Mark |last2=Methven |first2=Nicola |date=3 August 2016 |title=The Investigator real-life murder story finishes with 'jaw-dropping' revelations – and clues point to second series |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/investigator-real-life-murder-story-8556430 |accessdate=15 August 2016 |work=Daily Mirror}}</ref><ref name="ITV-TI12">{{cite episode |date=29 June 2016 |series=The Investigator: A British Crime Story |title=Episode 1 |url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week28/investigator-british-crime-story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831221919/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week28/investigator-british-crime-story |archive-date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=15 August 2016 |publisher=ITV}}</ref> Dorset Police subsequently confirmed that the case remained open and that they would be examining new evidence presented by Mark Williams-Thomas.<ref name="BEcho2">{{cite web |date=5 August 2016 |title=Police will re-examine evidence into murder of Carole Packman as convicted killer retracts confession made to TV investigator |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14664387.Police_will_re_examine_evidence_into_murder_of_Carole_Packman_as_convicted_killer_retracts_confession_made_to_TV_investigator/ |accessdate=15 August 2016 |work=Bournemouth Echo}}</ref>
The case has also been the subject of several other documentaries in recent years.
Episode 6 of ''When Missing Turns To Murder'' covers the Russell Causley case and is available to stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.{{cn|reason=IMDb is not a reliable source|date=October 2023}}
Nine Lives Media produced ''Nightmare In Suburbia'': the case featured in Series 3, Episode 3 titled ''Killing the truth'' which was initially broadcast in March 2011. Both Neil Gillingham and Samantha Gillingham discuss the impact the murder has had on them. The TV show is available to stream on Amazon Prime.{{cn|reason=IMDb is not a reliable source|date=October 2023}}
In September 2021, the case was again featured in Series 3, Episode 5 of ''The Killer In My Family'' series broadcast on Discovery+. Both Samantha Gillingham and her son Neil Gillingham appear in the programme giving in-depth accounts of the extraordinary impact the murder continues to have on their individual lives.{{cn|reason=IMDb is not a reliable source|date=October 2023}}
Monster Films produced ''Murder By The Sea'' Series 8 Episode 4 which is scheduled to be broadcast on Tuesday 31 January 2022 on CBS Reality and again on 1 February 2022. Neither Sam Gillingham or her son Neil Gillingham partake in the documentary and were unaware of its production.<!--
Paragraph based wholly on social media source, which is not reliable, also WP:CRYSTAL: Neil Gillingham has previously confirmed via social media that he is actively looking to produce a TV drama on the murder and that he intends on publishing a book in the future.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gillingham |first=Neil |date=2022-09-07 |title=Twitter Status |url=https://twitter.com/justice4carole/status/1567415570005385216}}</ref>-->
== See also == * List of murder convictions without a body * List of solved missing person cases (1980s) * Murder of Helen McCourt * List of unsolved murders in the United Kingdom (1980s) * ''The Investigator: A British Crime Story''
== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Murders in the United Kingdom in the 1980s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Packman, Carole}} Category:1985 in England Category:1980s missing person cases Category:1985 crimes in the United Kingdom Category:1985 murders in the United Kingdom Category:June 1985 in the United Kingdom Category:1980s in Dorset Category:Crime in Dorset Category:Female murder victims in the United Kingdom Category:History of Bournemouth Category:Missing person cases in England Category:Murder convictions without a body Category:Uxoricides in England