A violent killer described by his sufferer’s household and mates as a ‘monster’ could possibly be launched from jail in months simply three years after he was sentenced for stabbing a 22-year-old man to loss of life.
Robbie Smullen, 26, attacked Barry Dixon, 22, with a knife at a house in Wallace Courtroom, Perth, Scotland on June 4 2019.
Barry sustained a deadly wound to the center and died in hospital as medical doctors tried to avoid wasting his life.
Smullen was charged with Barry’s homicide however an Edinburgh jury discovered him responsible of culpable murder, and he was jailed for 9 years and three months.
Barry’s household have beforehand accused Scottish Police of lacking alternatives to arrest Smullen, and a petition calling for a public inquiry into the case has amassed greater than 12,000 signatures.
They’ve claimed Smullen was reported to police whereas in breach of his bail situations within the hours earlier than Barry’s loss of life and say he ought to have been arrested earlier than he had the chance to return to the property the place Barry was killed.
Barry Dixon, 22, was stabbed to loss of life by an offended Smullen in 2019 following an argument between the killer and his companion
Robbie Smullen hooked up Mr Dixon with a knife at his residence in Wallace Courtroom, Perth, Scotland on June 4 2019
On the time of his trial, Smullen additionally confronted a cost of breaking bail situations, particularly a curfew banning him from leaving his residence of the identical deal with between 7pm and 7am.
On a web page devoted to campaigning for an inquiry, Barry’s household stated: ‘We now have obtained a letter from the Scottish Parole Board informing us that they’re contemplating the early launch of coward Robbie Smullen, inviting us to make written representations about his potential launch.
‘We are going to after all strongly oppose his launch from jail, however it’s stunning that we’re even having to do that when he has solely served simply over 4 years for murdering Barry.
‘This monster is not an individual who made one mistake. This monster has all the time carried weapons, as a result of he’s a coward, and sadly that will not change.
‘He needs to be serving his full sentence; why ought to one other household’s little one be put in danger by his early launch. Please assist our combat to maintain him locked up.’
Smullen’s personal mom Mary, often known as Theresa Townley, was additionally convicted over Barry’s loss of life for making an attempt to pervert the course of justice. She was sentenced to 180 hours of unpaid work and positioned underneath a supervision order for 2 years.
The killer had argued together with his companion Shannon Beattie on the night time of Barry’s loss of life over his suspicions he was the daddy of one other girl’s little one.
Ms Beattie requested him and his mates to depart the flat earlier than assembly up with Mr Dixon at her residence.
Smullen had been consuming when he arrived again at his companion’s property within the early hours of the morning.
A combat broke out between the 2 males and Barry was stabbed. Smullen maintained in court docket that he acted in self-defence, however a jury didn’t agree and located him responsible of culpable murder.
Choose Woman Carmichael instructed him: ‘No sentence I can impose as we speak can restore or reduce the hurt you might have precipitated to the household of Barry Dixon.
‘The consequences of your actions are enduring for them and felt deeply by them.’
After being sentenced in April 2021, Smullen is already understood to be thought-about for launch by the tip of the yr, as he approaches the mid-point of his sentence – as soon as time on remand is taken under consideration.
The potential launch of Smullen comes at a time of elevated scrutiny on the jail system after authorities put in place a wide range of measures to permit non-violent prisoners to be launched early resulting from overcrowding.
And executives warned this week that additional prisoners will once more should be launched ‘inside days’ as Britain’s jails wrestle with an absence of capability.
The Scottish parole board stated it doesn’t touch upon particular person circumstances.
The Scottish Ministry of Justice have been contacted for remark.
