Daughter of murdered woman speaks for the first time as killer prepares to move to open prison
Killer brothers move closer to their release date after beating and strangling Shirley Oliver to death 11 years ago
THE devastated daughter of a woman brutally murdered by two brothers is fighting to stop one of her mum's killers from being moved to an open prison.
Shirley Oliver was beaten and strangled to death by Stewart and Christopher Jones who then dumped her body in a Cardiff alley eleven years ago.
Her horrified daughter Stephanie Davis has just discovered Christopher will serve the last 18 months of his 13-year sentence in an open prison.
The mum-of-three, who was 20 when her mum died, has told how she believes both brothers should be behind bars for the rest of their lives.
The pain never goes away
Stephanie Davis
The trainee teaching assistant from Llanrumney has launched a Facebook campaign to stop one of the killers being moved to an open jail.
Fighting back tears she said: “It’s like the first day I heard all over again.
"I try to blank it out and get on with my life for my children but the pain never goes away.”
Shirley’s beaten body was found in a lane linking Northumberland Street and York Street in Canton by a man on his way to work at 5.30am on February 5, 2005.
The 42-year-old mother of three had been on a night out when she met her killers.
Stewart Jones, from Roath, who was 31 at the time, admitted murder and was ordered to serve at least 15 years in prison.
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court took less than two hours to find his brother Christopher Jones, then 21,from Rumney, guilty of her murder and he was jailed for a minimum 13 years.
CCTV footage screened at the trial showed Stewart and Christopher meeting Shirley in a nightclub and later her getting into their car in the early hours of the morning.
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Revealing how she rushed to the murder scene the moment she heard, Stephanie said: “I went there. There was police tape and police and they wouldn’t let me in. I just went there when her body was still there. I didn’t want her to be alone.
“I was just turning 21 at the time she was murdered. I try to switch off for my family but it’s been so long and victims’ families get no support.”
Stephanie is terrified at the thought of encountering the killers after their release.
She is also fearful that if Christopher serves the end of his sentence in an open prison, he may be able to walk out and see her.
“I don’t think he should have that luxury. When I heard it felt like the first day I found out about the murder all over again.
"He took a life. I don’t think after 12 years he should have a new life. I don’t want him out. Life should mean life.”
She said her agony was made worse when she received a letter from Stewart Jones apologising for the killing.
“I couldn’t finish reading the letter. He said he had no reason and she did not deserve it and he was really sorry. I don’t know why he wrote to me. I just feel like the pain is never going to stop.
“I don’t think the sentences were long enough anyway.”
A jury at Stewart’s trial heard he attacked Shirley from behind and Christopher dropped her on the floor of an alleyway.
Matthew Roberts, prosecuting, said: “He then stamped on her with sufficient force to leave impressions from his shoe on her body. She was strangled, beaten, and stamped upon and then left for dead.”
Shirley, who attended Ysgol Glantaf, had three children – Stephanie, Melanie and Harry.
Melanie, who was 18 at the time of the murder, said she has suffered panic attacks for the past decade knowing what happened to her mother.
“I have nightmares and panic attacks and panic over silly things. I know how bad things can happen.
"I lost my mother in a night,” said Melanie.
I had to sit in court and listen to every injury.
"That destroyed me. I am petrified every day because I know what people are capable of.
“I can’t imagine bumping into them.
"How can I face the monsters who took away my mother and destroyed our lives? If I cry I am scared I will never stop.”
A Prison Service spokesman said: “Public protection is our top priority and transfers to open conditions can only be made after a thorough, expert, risk assessment carried out by the independent parole board.
“A transfer to open prison does not guarantee eventual release in any form – whether that be on a temporary or other form of licence. Before that happens, offenders must meet another stringent set of tests.”
Stephanie’s campaign is at: www.facebook.com/justiceforshirleyoliver
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