Mother’s anger at jail appeal by police murderer

American David Bieber, who is serving life with a minimum of 37 years behind bars for the shooting of Pc Ian Broadhurst in Leeds seven years ago, has been granted legal aid to apply for a judicial review to get his high risk security category reduced.

He argues his classification as a Category A prisoner breaches his human rights and amounts to “psychological torture”.

Bieber, considered one of Britain’s most dangerous prisoners, who was also convicted of attempting to murder two other officers in the same incident on Boxing Day 2003, is also understood to be making a separate challenge about having his legal documents searched on one occasion.

Pc Broadhurst’s mother Cindy Eaton, who sat in court throughout the murder trial, said last night: “I just feel so angry and disappointed with the legal system in this country that contemplates something like this. It is letting our family down.

“I don’t understand how someone who was in this country illegally, who took the life of my son and tried to take two more lives on that day, can claim such human rights. He has forfeited them.

“He is just hoping for a relaxation in vigilance so he can escape.”

An initial application to hold a judicial review into Bieber’s status, which was filled in by him personally without legal aid funding, was dismissed in a 30-second hearing at the High Court in Leeds yesterday when Mr Justice Langstaff said the Administration court had been told it did not need to consider the application. But it is understood Bieber did not pursue his first application because he made another, through solicitors, which is being considered by the court in London and for which he has legal aid.

In his previous application obtained by the Yorkshire Post, Bieber argued the category A ruling on him was “materially flawed, unlawful, unfair and irrational”.

He said he had taken courses in prison including anger management and victim awareness which had changed him.

He also claimed allegations he is a “high escape risk” were not justified based on information which the Prison Service refused to disclose to him and said suggestions he was linked to “hitmen” were fabricated.

Bieber was moved from Full Sutton prison near York to HMP Belmarsh last August.

His escape risk classification upgraded to “exceptional” after the prison service said they had received “escape-related intelligence”.

Mrs Eaton, now 71, said no victim awareness course would make Bieber understand her family’s loss including “Ian’s empty chair at family gatherings”. She added: “For every decision you make there are consequences, it is about time he started living with the consequences of what he did.”