Michael Gifford-Hull who murdered wife set to be released from prison

Michael Gifford-Hull, now aged 60, strangled his wife Kirsi, 38, and buried her in Micheldever Woods in September 2005.

He gave a TV appeal and pretended to break down whilst pleading for her to return to their detached home on Harestock Road.

Finnish-born Kirsi's body was found by a dog walker a few days later and Gifford-Hull, who co-owned a trailor-making firm in Alresford, was charged with murder and stood trial at Winchester Crown Court in September 2006.

READ MORE HERE: Life for husband who murdered wife

He was found guilty by a majority verdict and jailed for life, being told he would not be eligible for parole before serving 15 years and 332 days, a date that was passed in late 2022.

The Parole Board is recommending he be released. The exact date was unavailable.

The Justice Secretary Dominic Raab can challenge the decision within 21 days but it is unclear if he has done so. The Ministry of Justice has been asked to comment.

Gifford-Hull had denied murdering his wife claiming her death was accidental after she attacked him with crutches after an argument when she discovered he had sex with prostitutes.

Her body was hidden under a bed and then dropped out of a first-floor window. He hid her in the garage where her body was missed by police officers undertaking a search.

He took her to Micheldever Woods and buried her in a shallow grave. A dog walker found her remains on October 6, just days after her husband's TV appeal.

SEE MORE: Murderer's TV appeal for missing who he knew was dead

Gifford-Hull reported Kirsi missing and told police that following the row Kirsi had left with her passport and a large sum of money.

Winchester Crown Court was played footage of the press conference in which Gifford-Hull made his emotional appeal.

Jurors watched as Gifford-Hull, 43, choked back tears and said: "I would just like to say to Kirsi, please come back. The kids want you back. If anyone has seen her please let us know where she is. There are two small children who are going frantic."

He described to journalists how on October 5 the previous year his wife of 19 years was a "family, private person" and that he and their two children were "always thinking that she might come back any minute".

Gifford-Hull said that he had been trying to get his son, then nine, and daughter, then 12, to lead as normal a life as possible but said: "They want to know when she is coming back".

READ ALSO: Family's plea to missing mother

He said they were coping "fantastically" but were distraught, and that he was proud of them.

The police denied that the media appeal, screened on national and international TV, was intended to see how Gifford-Hull performed before the cameras.

Giving evidence Det Supt David Kilbride said: "The hope was that Kirsi was safe and well somewhere. That she had just walked away from the marriage."

He added that the intention was to "seek her out if she was hiding" by showing it in her native country Finland.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Michael Gifford-Hull following an oral hearing in February 2023.

SEE ALSO: Husband found guilty of wife's murder

"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.

"A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

"Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

"Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

"It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

In a summary of its decision, the Parole Board said Gifford-Hull had been sent to an open prison in October 2021.

"The panel carefully considered the detail and circumstances of the index offences as well as all the other evidence before it. This enabled it to identify a number of risk factors - things that made it more likely that Mr Gifford-Hull would offend - which had existed at the time of his offending. These included his difficulties in relationships, his capacity for deceit, a willingness to take risks, and not being able to manage stress in his personal and work life. Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Gifford-Hull’s progress and custodial conduct during this sentence.

"The panel was told that since being sentenced, his behaviour had been positive and he had engaged with his sentence plan. Mr Gifford-Hull had undertaken accredited programmes to address key aspects of his offending behaviour. This work had focused on his thinking and decision making skills, and his attitudes and behaviour in relationships. He had also completed work to enhance his insight into the impact of his offending on those affected by it.

"The panel heard that since his arrival in open conditions, Mr Gifford-Hull’s behaviour had continued to be good and he had engaged well with professional staff. He had spent periods of time in the community on temporary licence including some overnight stays at a designated address. No concerns were raised as a result of these resettlement activities.

"Mr Gifford-Hull had also found work in the community and regular checks had resulted in no concerns being raised. The panel examined the release plan provided by Mr Gifford-Hull’s Probation Officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks. The plan included a requirement to reside at a designated address as well as strict limitations on Mr Gifford-Hull’s contacts, movements and activities.

"The panel concluded this plan was robust enough to manage him in the community at this stage and took account of the extent to which it had already been tested. It noted that Mr Gifford-Hull had shown a very high level of commitment to work within the constraints of his licence.

"After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody, the details of the release plan and the very full evidence presented at the hearing and in the dossier, the panel was satisfied that Mr Gifford-Hull was suitable for release. His release is subject to the following licence conditions, which must be strictly adhered to:

• To comply with requirements to reside at a designated address, to be of good behaviour, to disclose developing relationships, and to report as required for supervision or other appointments;

• To comply with other identified limitations concerning contacts in the community;

• To continue to work on addressing defined areas of risk in the community".