One of the men who stopped the London Bridge terrorist is reportedly a convicted murderer

[Renew Deal]

The quick-thinking bystanders who ran toward danger to help others during a terrorist attack on London Bridge on Friday swiftly earned the title of “heroes.” But for the family of 21-year-old Amanda Champion, who was murdered in 2003, one of the men who reportedly intervened as the fatal knifing unfolded is anything but heroic.

Convicted murderer James Ford, 42, was on day release from prison Friday when he saw the attack unfolding and rushed to help during the chaos, according to British media reports. Ford had attended the same prisoner rehabilitation event as 28-year-old attacker Usman Khan, a convicted Islamist terrorist, who killed two people before being shot dead by police, the reports said.

“He is not a hero. He is a murderer out on day release, which us as a family didn’t know anything about. He murdered a disabled girl. He is not a hero, absolutely not,” Amanda’s aunt, Angela Cox, told the Daily Mail on Friday. “I don’t care what he’s done today, he’s a murderer,” she said.
<snip>

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/11/30/one-men-who-stopped-london-bridge-terrorist-is-convicted-murderer

What does "day release" mean? He was out of prison just for that day?

[murielm99]

1. Is it like work release here?

There are people here who are serving fairly long terms in the county jail. They are allowed out to go to their jobs during the day. They spend their nights and weekends in jail. I am sure some of them fail, but it can work, too. They are supporting their families. They are happy not to be sitting around in the jailhouse all day and all night.

My husband worked with a couple of them when he was a printer. They were glad to be a part of the program. They never misbehaved on the job. I don't know if any of them reoffended, but they certainly did well while in the work release program.

[crazytown]

5. He was in the final days of his sentence , attending a rehabilitation event.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-bridge-attack-stabbing-latest-convicted-murderer-day-release-james-ford-a9227216.html

[customerserviceguy]

7. Apparently

they hand out short sentences for crime in the UK, I guess it's inevitable that a couple of convicts are going to meet up over a violent act.

[orangecrush]

2. And he did the right thing anyway

Which in itself is reward enough.

[micDROP]

3. wow

Well, at least he did something good. I believe in 2nd chances.

[crazytown]

4. "(Ford) is understood to be in the final days of his sentence

at HMP Standford Hill, open prison in Kent ... He had been attending a Learning Together conference for prisoner rehabilitation at the Fishmongers’ Hall"

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-bridge-attack-stabbing-latest-convicted-murderer-day-release-james-ford-a9227216.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. The day release system:

A prisoner may be allowed to leave prison for short periods towards the end of their sentence - whatever its type or length.

However, the prison won’t release someone if it thinks they’re a risk to the public or may commit more crime.

Resettlement day release
A resettlement day release lets a prisoner out during the day - eg to go on a training course to help them find work once they are released.

Resettlement overnight release
A resettlement overnight release lets a prisoner spend the night at the place they’ll live at after they’re released.

Childcare resettlement licence
A childcare resettlement licence lets a prisoner spend time with their child. They can only apply for this if they’ll be the sole carer of a child when they finish their prison sentence.

https://www.gov.uk/leaving-prison/temporary-release-from-prison-