A killer who evaded justice for 15 years is seeking release from prison after being convicted of the infamous 1988 Valentine’s Day murder of Lynette White. Wales’ Jeffrey Gafoor was sentenced to life in prison in 2003, with a minimum term of 13 years, for the brutal stabbing of Lynette White, a Cardiff prostitute, who was found dead in a flat above a betting shop in James Street, Butetown.
Gafoor, who admitted to stabbing White more than 50 times during a dispute over £30, has his sixth parole hearing scheduled for Thursday. Notably, in 1990, Stephen Miller, Tony Paris, and Yusef Abdullahi, known as the Cardiff Three, were wrongfully convicted of White’s murder and freed later on appeal, revealing police misconduct in obtaining confessions. DNA evidence eventually linked Gafoor to the crime.
Over the years, Gafoor has made several attempts at gaining parole, initially being denied in 2016 and 2018. Following his transfer to an open prison in 2020, his progress towards rehabilitation was hindered by Covid-19 restrictions. Despite showing improvement and addressing his risk factors, a Parole Board review from May 2021 recommended that he remain in open conditions.
The circumstances surrounding Lynette White’s murder led to a review of the original police investigation, resulting in trials of former detectives for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. However, legal challenges and failures in disclosure led to the collapse of the trials, marking a significant chapter in UK criminal history. Gafoor’s quest for freedom will continue with the decision resting with the Secretary of State and future parole reviews on the horizon.
The somber history of the Lynette White case, intertwined with the saga of the Cardiff Three and subsequent legal battles, underscores the complexities and challenges of seeking justice. Gafoor’s pursuit of release brings renewed attention to a case that has left a lasting impact on Wales’ criminal justice system and the quest for truth and accountability.