PAROLE board bosses have insisted the safety of the public will be their paramount concern when deciding whether a convicted murderer should be let out after serving his minimum term.

Andrew Fredericks was ordered to serve a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years after being convicted of Westley Odger’s murder.

Given the time he spent on remand ahead of his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, the minimum tariff is now close to being served.

A parole review has now been served and is set to be considered in the coming weeks.

A spokesman for the parole board said: “We can confirm the parole review of Andrew Fredericks has been referred to the parole board and is following standard processes.

“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.

“The panel will carefully examine a whole range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as understand the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly, with extreme care.

“Protecting the public is our number one priority.”

Gazette:

Battle - Westley Odger's mother Ann Oakes-Odger MBE with a picture of him as a child

>>>READ MORE: Mother vows to fight to keep her son's killer behind bars

Mr Odger was stabbed to death at a cashpoint in Hunwicke Road, Colchester, in September 2005.

Bricklayer Fredericks, 32 at the time of trial, then of Compton Road, Colchester, Colchester. and his brother, Mark, had blamed each other for inflicting the fatal blow on Mr Odger.

Cleaner Mark Fredericks, then 37 and of Avon Way, Colchester, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

An argument had broken out between Mr Odger at Mark Fredericks as they waited to use a cash machine.

He returned to his home which was close by in Greenstead and called his brother.

They both arrived back at the scene in a dark Ford Sierra and confronted Mr Odger, who was a plastics worker.

During the attack an artery was severed and Mr Odger tragically died at the scene despite the best efforts of police, paramedics and passersby who stepped in and tried to save his life.

Speaking from the witness box, murderer Fredericks tried to blame his brother for the attack.

He said: “My brother knows what he’s done and he knows what pain and anguish he’s causing.”

At the time Westley’s mother Ann Oakes-Odger described the attack as barbaric.

In a statement read out at the end of the trial, she said: “Our lives will never be the same again without Westley.

“Every day decisions and routines are different now as a result of this barbaric, cowardly and violent act.”

Judge Christopher Ball QC said the case highlighted the grave dangers of people routinely arming themselves with knives and suggested that if Westley could be stabbed to death then anyone could.