Tariffs

1 May 2002 - 10.00
Court 4
Royal Courts of Justice

The decision of the Lord Chief Justice on tariff in the case of Glenn David Howells in accordance with the Practice Direction dated 27 July 2000 (The Times, 9 August 2000)

1. Glenn David Howells was born on 11 January 1980. On 12 February 1997 at Leeds Crown Court, Glenn was convicted of murder and sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure. The offence was committed on 31 August 1995 at which time Glenn was 15 years 7 months of age

.2. Glenn had two co-defendants. His father, David John Howell who also was convicted of murder and whose tariff was set at 18 years in June 1998 and his brother John Alexander Howells who was also convicted of murder and who is sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure. He was 14 and a half years of age at the time of the offence.

Facts of the Offence

3. On 31 August 1995 Evelyn Howells, the mother of Glenn and John, was struck upon the head by one or more blunt instruments as she sat in the living room of her home. The murder was counselled and procured by her husband, and Glenn's father, David. David established an alibi for himself by being at a public house in Crossland Moor at the time of the offence. Glenn actually killed his mother with at least twelve blows of a hammer. John helped his brother by disposing of the weapon and clothing.

4. Glenn called the police and ambulance. Glenn and his brother attempted to make it appear that there had been a burglary, which had gone wrong. They pulled over a bureau and told the police that £100 was missing from a cafetiere.

5. The police secretly taped a total of ten conversations between the father and the sons. Some of the time the brothers were alone. The tapes contained statements by the father and brothers that pointed to the involvement of all three in the killing. The main purpose of the police in making the tapes was to show the instigation and complicity the father, as they felt the boys would not have committed the killing without his involvement.

6. The relationship between Glenn and his mother was not happy. He was subjected to both physical and verbal abuse from a dominant and abusive mother. The mother also suffered from an eating disorder and kept a very tight rein on the family finances. Glenn had to give pedicures to his mother and massage her back as did John Howells, his younger brother.

7. Financial gain was a motive for the killing. The father and the brothers anticipated a substantial inheritance upon Mrs Howell's death. Glenn has stated that the murder was the result of an accumulation of rage over the years.

8. The trial judge, Mr. Justice Alliott, recommended a tariff of between 10-12 years for Glenn due to the terrible injuries he inflicted on his mother and for being the actual killer. The Lord Chief Justice recommended a term of 10 years.

9. The Secretary of State set the tariff for Glenn Howells at 10 years.

Post-Conviction Behaviour

10. Glenn tends to minimise the involvement of his father and youngest brother stating that it was he that committed the actual offence and that they were "dragged down" by him. He thinks that it is his fault that they are in prison. He admits to having fantasised about killing his mother prior to the actual killing and to having discussed killing her with his brother (HM Prison Service-HMP and YOI Moorland Report on Life Sentence Prisoner dated 31 July 1998).

11. Glenn continues to deny that his father and brother conspired with him to commit the offence. He continues to take full blame for the offence. There is evidence that Glenn feels fiercely protective of his father's ability to cope in prison, feels responsible for him and hero-worships him (West Yorkshire Service/F75 Lifer Report dated September 1999).

12. Glenn feels that he should have been convicted of manslaughter and not murder but states that he accepts full responsibility for his mother's death and that she did not deserve what had happened. He states that he saw no other way of stopping the abuse he and his brother endured. He wishes that she was still alive but "different". He has expressed full remorse for her death.

13. Glenn appears to recognise that sexual abuse was present in that his mother's abusive behaviour included entering the bathroom while he was showering and being told to perform massage on his mother while she was naked (F75 Lifer Report dated September 1999). The Probation Officer at Moorlands states that he does not feel that Glenn could have hit his mother if he had seen her face and that it was significant that he struck his mother from behind. (F75 Life Sentence Prisoner Report dated 16 August 2000).

14. In July 1998 Glenn completed the Enhanced Thinking Skills Course at HMP & YOI Moorland. He has also completed the Offence Focussed Group, Victim issues and Risk Management and Relapse Prevention. Whilst at the Sutton Place Secure Unit Glenn undertook work on Anger Management and Offending Behaviour. He has completed the C.S.L.A. course.

15. Glenn received one minor report in 1997 for using towels as curtains and received two warnings in 1999 but he received no adjudications whilst at Moorland.

16. Glenn has been in full time education. He passed three GCSEs receiving a "C" for Maths and English Language and a "D" for English Literature and completed the OCN Level 2 in Art, Craft and Design, an AEB in Geography (85%) and RSA Numeracy Stage 1& 2. In 2000 Glenn completed a GCSE in English and Art. He is working towards a GNVQ in Business Studies and towards an NVQ in VT Catering whilst he has completed a GNVQ in Sport and Recreation. Glenn hopes to eventually apply for Open University.

17. Glenn worked in the library at Moorlands and he was employed as a Gym Red Band for 6 months. In 2000 he was employed in VT Catering where he was regarded as being able to work unsupervised and is seen as trustworthy.

18. Glenn attended the Lifer Group Review at Moorland in 1998 to 1999 and was considered to have made substantial progress in his behaviour. He was regarded as interacting well with other group members and as giving encouragement to others.

19. Glenn has an excellent disciplinary record and is regarded as having a positive attitude (Lifer Group Review November/December 1998). He is a member of the rugby team and achieved the gold award in the Coca-Cola Soccer Skills course. Glenn has also assisted two referees at institution football matches and is perceived as being fair and honest in the decisions he makes while running the line.

20. Glenn has developed a close relationship with a Mr and Mrs Ekert who visit him regularly and who he regards as a "surrogate family". He remains very close to his father and brother and has regular contact with them through visits and letters both when at Moorlands and when he was transferred to HM Prison Kingston, Portsmouth in 2001. In May 2001 Glenn went to HMP Wakefield for four weeks of accumulated visits where he saw both his father and his brother.

21. He appears to have adjusted well in the transfer from the YOI to the adult system and is seen as having good relationships with both staff and other inmates. Upon completion of the CALM programme it was recommended that Glenn be admitted to a lower category prison (Report on Life Sentence Prisoner dated 29 August 2001).

22. Glenn has received in excess of 40 awards and certificates and his behaviour is seen as exemplary.

Representations on Behalf of Glenn Howells

23. Glenn has chosen not to make any representation in respect of this review. There are no other representations made on his behalf.

Conclusion

24. Glenn has made very considerable progress and I feel justified in reflecting this by selecting a tariff of 9 years.