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Murderer loses High Court bid for early release
A GANGLAND killer involved in gunning down a defenceless victim he believed was a police informer has lost his appeal for early release.
A judge said yesterday that Leeds man Peter Green deserved every day of his minimum 20-year sentence.
Green, now 47, was jailed in 1996 for Nigel Wilson's cold-blooded murder.
He was one of three men who slaughtered Mr Wilson in a carefully planned killing in Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, in 1995.
Mr Wilson died within seconds after being hit in the head, neck and arms with six shots from a revolver.
After reviewing his case at the High Court, Mr Justice Coulson said there was no basis for a reduction in his sentence.
The judge said that if he was being jailed for the first time today, he would have got more than 20 years under tougher guidelines now in force.
Although it could never be proved which of the men fired the shots, the judge said there was evidence the gunman may have been Green.
All three men were described as "dangerous" by the trial judge, who had recommended a 25-year minimum term for Green.
His minimum term was then cut to 20 years by the Home Secretary at the time.
Green, formerly of St Hilda's Place, Richmond Hill, was convicted of the murder at Sheffield Crown Court in December 1996.
Mr Justice Coulson's ruling means his 20-year tariff will not expire until 2015.
But he will only be released if the Parole Board considers it safe to do so.
The judge said Green and his co-accused had blamed each other for the killing.
They claimed their intention was to "rough up" Mr Wilson as a warning that he should stay away from Leeds.
Mr Wilson was also suspected of being a police informer and the judge said his murder "may have been designed to defeat the ends of justice."
If Green is released he will remain on perpetual "life licence" and could be returned to prison at any time if he breaks the law.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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