Good Morning Britain viewers were left furious today as a lawyer argued for child murderer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison.
The 61-year-old killer, who committed his first murder at 22, was jailed for life for murdering and raping 15-year-olds Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann in the 1980s in Leicestershire.
He has spent 33 years in prison and was previously denied parole in 2018, but the Parole Board has now said that it is satisfied that he is suitable for release.
However, since the news was announced, the families of the murdered schoolgirls have expressed their "devastation" over the decision to free him.
Yet, lawyer Chris Daw QC argued that the Parole Board's decision was correct as he appeared on GMB alongside retired detective Sue Hill.
"You have to set aside the individual, emotional reaction to these cases and look at what we're using our criminal justice system for," he insisted.
Explaining that he didn't feel that harsher prison sentences acted as a deterrent, he said: "What you end up with is a much worse criminal justice system and what you end up with is a lot more crime, particularly murder and violence overall."
Yet Sue argued that she wasn't "against the rehabilitation of offenders", saying: "However, the Parole Board in the last decade have let 95 people out on Parole and they've gone on to commit horrendous crimes.
"What we're talking about here is two young girls who were raped and murdered by this brutal killer. And these families - I'm probably more emotional about it than Chris because Chris reads about it and he talks about stats and he's written a lovely book. I know families, I've dealt with families. I've knocked on their door to tell them their daughters have been raped and murdered.
"When you feel that raw emotion of families, then you'll understand where I'm coming from. So I speak for victims - I've listened to what Chris has said. Great, lovely, it is a deterrent because when they're locked up, when they're banged up, they don't come out again to commit more crimes."
She went on to brand him a "violent, vile killer" and a "monster".
Chris responded by saying that he "totally understands why people are distressed" but said that "calling someone a monster doesn't help".
Yet viewers were largely on Sue's side and flocked to Twitter to comment.
One tweeted: "Just when you think the world can’t get anymore s****y @crimlawuk on #GMB thinks no crime is so serious that offenders should have a whole life tariff, not even the rape and murder of more than one child. No empathy for the families whatsoever. He’s sick in the head."
While another fumed: "Serial Murderers should never be released on parole. He raped and Murdered children FFS!! Hopefully he's raped and murdered if released. #GMB."
A third wrote: "If it was his daughter I’m sure he’d think differently #gmb."
"Child murders should be in jail forever #gmb," another insisted.
One raged: "According to this bloke we should roll out the red carpet & just say diddums #GMB."
Yet another viewer agreed with the lawyer, writing: "Chris Daw QC is spot on. Sue Hill wants to throw away the key. I'm just glad she doesn't represent the entire police force. #GMB."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
