A killer who murdered his wife and never revealed where he dumped her body has issued a shock ‘confession’ just weeks before his parole hearing.
Russell Causley, now 78, killed his wife Veronica Packman, who liked to be known as Carole, in 1985 but has never told his devastated family what happened or where he dumped the body.
He has now given an alleged confession, where he claims Veronica was strangled and he burned her body over several days.
His daughter Sam Gillingham, 51, who has been campaigning for the truth and is desperate for him to stay locked in jail, does not believe him and says he is a ‘proven liar’.
The alleged confession is similar to a letter Causley wrote in 2016, claiming it was how he killed his wife but then retracted.
Causley was found guilty of Veronica’s murder in 1996 after he was jailed for trying to fake his own death in a boating accident in an insurance scam.
He allegedly told a cellmate about the ‘perfect’ murder of his ‘b**** wife’.
Russell Causley (middle) is pictured with Veronica Packman (left) and daughter Sam Gillingham (right)
Sam Gillingham and son Neil hold a picture of Veronica as they campaign outside Parliament for Helen’s Law
Ms Gillingham, who was 16 when her mother disappeared from the family’s home in Bournemouth, said that every new tale Causley spins is just more torture for her and her family.
She said: ‘It still defies belief that we get to a parole hearing, and my father is able to just give a different story.
‘It totally messes with my head, how can he be considered for release when he’s still lying. He’s a manipulating, narcissistic murderer.
The alleged confession is similar to a letter Causley wrote in 2016, claiming it was how he killed his wife Veronica (pictured) but then retracted
‘I feel like I’m beating my head against a brick wall – he can say whatever he wants behind bars and still be considered for release.
‘This sits festering like an old wound which once again is flaring up to give me more pain and anxiety. I ask myself ‘Why can’t this stop?’
‘I’ve had enough of this so-called justice system that we have to work through.
‘For me each hearing just brings every single part of pain that this has given me over the last three decades. It’s like a slow torture.’
The 78-year-old is due to go before the Parole Board next month ahead of his possible release.
Dorset Police told Sam and her son Neil, 30, about his alleged confession last week.
Neil will be providing a victim impact statement at the parole hearing. He said: ‘To come up with this now is inhumane, insensitive and cruel.
‘My grandfather is an evil depraved murderer and a proven liar.
‘The whole process is so torturous for us, and if this confession is found to be false there is no way he should be released if he keeps treating us so callously.’
Dorset Police said they investigated Causley’s letters thoroughly in 2016 but could not confirm this was what happened to Veronica.
The killer could now be released later this year.
Causley did once before give an alleged confession in 2016 to the ITV documentary The Investigator – where he said he strangled Veronica and burned her body.
It read: ‘Carole was coming out of a small bedroom we used as an office.
‘Something was said by her about Samantha or Tricia, and I hit her. I’d never hit her before ever.
‘I then used a tie to cut off her airways. There was no sound from her, nothing.’
Ms Gillingham (left), who was 16 when her mother (right) disappeared, said that every new tale Causley spins is just more torture for her and her family
Ms Gillingham (right), who has been campaigning for the truth and is desperate for her father (middle) to stay locked in jail, does not believe his confession about what happened to her mother (left)
Veronica’s family is desperate to find out what happened to her and where her body is, Dorset Police said
Ms Gillingham is a vocal supporter of Helen’s Law, which places a legal duty on parole boards to consider the cruelty of killers who refuse to give the location of a victim’s remains.
What is Helen’s Law?
Helen’s Law was in the Queen’s Speech in November last year and has been approved by MPs.
Under the plans, named after murder victim Helen McCourt (pictured), the Parole Board will have a legal duty to reflect the failure to disclose the site of a victim’s remains when considering if a prisoner should be freed.
The announcement marks a victory for Helen’s mother, Marie McCourt, 74, who has been campaigning to stop the release of her daughter’s killer, Ian Simms.
Miss McCourt, 22, an insurance clerk, was killed in February 1988 after vanishing on her way home from work.
Pub landlord Simms was convicted thanks to DNA evidence, but he has always refused to reveal the location of her remains and they have never been found.
A spokeswoman said the force’s previous investigation covered many of the claims raised in the new alleged confession.
She said: ‘We cannot begin to imagine the pain and heartache that Mrs Gillingham and her family have endured over the last 30 years because of the actions of Russell Causley, who remains in prison serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife Carole Packman.
‘This case has been thoroughly reviewed on a number of occasions by Dorset Police.’
‘Dorset Police was presented with a file following the conclusion of the ITV documentary.
‘A detective inspector review was undertaken.
‘This comprehensive and thorough review involved taking additional statements and interviewing Patricia Ward under caution.
‘The file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, they have considered the case and concluded there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.
‘The CPS has updated Mrs Gillingham with the result of the review.
‘Carole’s family is desperate to find out what happened to her and where her body is.
‘Dorset Police will continue to work with the family to achieve this goal.’
‘A detective inspector review was undertaken.
‘The file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, they have considered the case and concluded there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.
‘The CPS has updated Mrs Gillingham with the result of the review.
‘Carole’s family is desperate to find out what happened to her and where her body is.
Sam Gillingham holds a picture of Veronica as she is interviewed outside Parliament
Causley’s grandson Neil will be providing a victim impact statement at the parole hearing
‘Dorset Police will continue to work with the family to achieve this goal.’
A Parole Board spokesman said: ‘An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Russell Causley and is scheduled to take place in August.
‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public after release and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
‘The panel will carefully examine a whole range of evidence, including details of the original case and any evidence of behaviour change.
‘We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.’