Mum of baby murdered by his dad fighting to keep him locked up

The mother of a 14-week-old baby who was murdered by his father is fighting to keep him behind bars for life.

Sheree Black has had to write a victim impact statement explaining why her son Cameron’s murderer Ryan Leslie should not be considered for parole in two years’ time.

Sheree says Leslie has shown no sign of remorse or rehabilitation after he inflicted 14 rib fractures and numerous bruises on Cameron before killing him with a severe blow to the head at his home in Belfast in 2008.

Leslie will get to read this victim impact statement as his minimum 17 year life sentence is reviewed by parole commissioners in two years’ time.

Sheree told Metro: ‘He could have tried to help his son, instead he made him suffer even more. Somebody like that shouldn’t receive parole.

‘When you look at the injuries and the length that he went through to cover it up.

‘He shouldn’t be allowed to walk free. I will never forgive him. Life should mean life. 

‘There hasn’t been one moment where he said that I’m sorry or I didn’t mean it. He just completely denied it.’

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland started a petition to block Leslie’s release after she received a letter in November asking her to write a victim impact statement.

The statement will be read by her son’s killer and the parole board, who are conducting a pre-tariff review before Leslie becomes eligible for parole in two years.

‘It is a strange situation because he also gets to read the statement,’ Sheree said.

‘You’re trying to get your point across without coming across vulnerable or making yourself seem weak to the man who basically destroyed my life.

‘He is going to hear this, but it is also directed to the probation board so they understand the severity of the situation. 

‘The court case ended in 2011 and I haven’t had to deal with any police or anything since then, so it’s a strange feeling to start reopening that chapter of my life.

‘It’s a bittersweet situation because it needs to be done. However, obviously it does bring back a lot of traumatic memories.’

Leslie was described as a significant reoffending risk by a judge when he was sentenced in 2011.

Sheree warns that allowing Cameron’s murderer parole would ‘undermine’ the justice system and risk the lives of others.

Sheree said: ‘The parole commissioners and probation board really need to be looking at this seriously.

‘People who are in for minor car offences or smoking cannabis are not the same as people who have killed babies. It’s two different levels too.

‘If he admitted what he’d done, that would bring a bit of peace to my family. He robbed my son and me of my son’s life. 

‘I’m only 35, I’m still young. I want to settle down and have a family and before I’ve even done that, this man’s going to get to walk the streets.

‘Our law is just unjust. You get more time doing something ridiculous than you do killing a kids.’

Sheree’s initial plea on TikTok for help with her petition has now been watched almost half a million times.

She says is calling for the parole board to ‘honor Cameron’s memory by ensuring that his killer remains in prison.’

The support she has received since then has encouraged her to take a positive out of the pain she has endured.

‘I have hid away for a long time with my story and not really said anything,’ added Sheree.

‘Since I’ve actually spoken out about I have had an immense amount of support.  Humans aren’t so bad after all.’

‘This process is part of the by healing journey that I didn’t even realise needed to happen.

‘It’s been emotional for me. I have actually felt a sense of relief and like I’m actually able to breathe again.

‘As hard as it was to write the impact statement,, it’s something that I also needed to do.’

A spokesperson for Northern Ireland Prison Service said: ‘The Prison Service does not comment on individual prisoners.

‘On the wider issue of rehabilitation and resettlement back into the community, when a life prisoner is approaching the last three years of the minimum sentence given by the courts, a process will begin to consider their suitability for pre-release testing. 

‘Victims are an integral part of that and an impact statement will be requested to ensure their concerns are fully considered.’

The parole process begins when Northern Ireland Prison Service refers a convict’s case to the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland.

The commissioners will then have to decide if the prisoner is suitable to be let free with certain license conditions attached.

Leslie case is currently under a pre-tariff review prior to the parole process, which accesses an offender’s progress in custody and rehabilitation before the end of their minimum sentence.

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