Kriss Killer Was On Early Release

One of the men who killed Kriss Donald was out of prison on early release when he murdered the Glasgow teenager. Imran Shahid was sentenced to 30 months in February 2003 for assault to danger of life and dangerous driving. Shahid, 29, who had also been in prison for assault in 1995, was released after nine months and went on to kill 15-year-old Kriss three months later. The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon said it was appalling that Imran Shahid committed such a crime while on early release.

She said there was a crisis of confidence in sentencing and the public needed to know they were being protected from serious criminals. “Early release is a system that has been completely discredited,” Ms Sturgeon said. “The revelation that it was involved in this case adds to that.”

She said there would now be a debate over whether proposals introduced in parliament to end that system go far enough. Ms Sturgeon added: “There is now an overwhelming feeling that this system of automatic release after someone has served only half their sentence is simply unacceptable.”

Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said this case proved the criminal justice system was failing people in Scotland. Ms Mitchell said: “This is an absolute travesty of justice which yet again has cost a young man his life.” She said there had to be a guarantee that no-one who was going to be a danger to the public should be let out.

The Liberal Democrats called for an inquiry into this specific case because there must have been some reason why early release was granted.

The Scottish Executive declined to give a statement.

Kriss Donald was abducted on 15 March, 2004, from Pollokshields in Glasgow. He was later stabbed and set on fire. His body was found by the Clyde walkway in the east end of the city.

Imran Shahid was found guilty of his murder on Wednesday. Faisal Mushtaq, 27, and Zeeshan Shahid, 28, were also convicted of murder and given a mandatory life sentence.

Imran Shahid must serve a minimum of 25 years, Zeeshan Shahid, 23 years minimum and Mushtaq, at least 22 years. The judge at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Uist, described Imran Shahid as “a thug and bully with a sadistic nature not fit to be free in civilised society”.