A SADISTIC sex killer has been branded a “coward” after refusing to face his victim’s family at a public parole hearing.
Depraved farm worker Steven Ling attacked and murdered Joanne Tulip, 29, on Christmas Day in 1997.
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Ling, 49, carved swastikas and crosses on his victim’s lifeless body after stabbing her 60 times.
He was locked up for life and ordered to spend at least 18 years in prison.
Ling now faces a parole hearing today which will be held in public at the request of hairdresser Joanne’s family.
The review could see him moved to an open prison and allowed out on day release under minimal supervision.
But Ling has “refused to take part” in the review because of “his distress at the thought of a public hearing”, according to parole documents.
A prison psychologist said the prospect of giving evidence in public about his wicked crimes is “triggering experiences of internalised shame”.
He also claims to be suffering poor mental health, we can reveal.
Joanne’s mother Doreen Soulsby said Ling was using excuses to avoid having to appear in public.
Usually parole board hearings are held in private away from bereaved families and the glare of the press.
Doreen, of Wall, Northumberland, said: “The main reason I fought for a public hearing was to see and hear Ling – and now I may not even get that.
“He’s said that he doesn’t want a public hearing. He’s terrified. He’s been hiding away in prison and now he’s got to face the public.
“He said he doesn’t feel he can give the best evidence because his mental health is deteriorating and he’s threatening suicide.
“But mental health is just an excuse. He’s a coward who doesn’t want to face the music after hiding away in prison for 26 years.
“If he doesn’t face the public, then he shouldn’t be released.
“It’s like those criminals who won’t go to court to face sentencing. It should be mandatory, as should this.
“What’s the point of a public hearing if the offender refuses to appear on camera or speak in public?
“We don’t know yet whether we’re going to hear him. We won’t know until the day.”
Ling was jailed in 1998 for the violent murder of Joanne at his home in Stamfordham, Northumberland.
Farm worker Steven Ling stabbed Joanne Tulip, 29, to death on Christmas Day in 1997.
Ling, now 49, carved swastikas and crosses on his victim’s lifeless body after stabbing her 60 times.
At the time of brutal attack, aged 23, he had a sick sexual obsession with cutting skin.
He also made a statement about having sex with Joanne against her will, although the rape charge against him was dropped in favour of prosecuting the murder.
He was locked up for life in December 1998 and ordered to spend at least 18 years in prison.
Ling now faces a parole hearing on July 16 which will be held in public at the request of hairdresser Joanne’s family.
The review could see him moved to an open prison and allowed out on day release under minimal supervision.
At the time of brutal attack, aged 23, he had a sick sexual obsession with cutting skin.
Doreen successfully fought to stop Ling’s proposed transfer to an open prison in 2022 after she enlisted the help of then justice secretary Dominic Raab.
It was the first time that a Justice Secretary blocked a parole board decision in the interests of public safety.
Doreen is now writing to new Labour home secretary Yvette Cooper ahead of the two-day parole hearing on June 16.
She said: “He is still dangerous – it’s the way his head is wired.
“It was a masochistic, sadistic, depraved attack on Joanne. He was 23 when he committed that offence. Now he’s 49 and he’s been locked up all his young life.
“I think his sexual appetite will have been building behind bars and if he got to an open prison, there would be days he would be released into the community.
“If he saw pretty girls walking down the street, what would happen? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
“He’s a danger to women and he shouldn’t ever walk free.
“You can’t mend people like him. He’s just bad. You don’t take the risk.
“It’s very wearing to have to keep fighting but I want justice for my daughter and that’s what keeps me going.
“It gives me inner strength, I will fight it until the bitter end.
“I never want him released.”
Ling’s applied to the public hearing to be held in private in February.
But parole board chair Caroline Corby concluded: “Although it may be distressing to Mr Ling, his discomfort flows from his own offending and it cannot be separated from the Parole Board processes.
“I do not consider that the risk to Mr Ling’s right to life is sufficient to preclude the hearing from being in public.”
A Parole Board spokesperson said: “A public oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Steven Ling and is scheduled to take place in July 2024.
“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.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
“Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
“The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
