Joanne Tulip: Stephen Ling parole hearing to be made public

Joanne Tulip, who was 29 when she died, was killed by Stephen Ling in Stamfordham in 1997.

Hairdresser Joanne had met the farm labourer while out with friends on Christmas Eve before she was stabbed 60 times at his home.

Twenty-four-year-old Ling carved crosses and swastikas on Joanne's body before and after death, before attempting to set fire to her.

Ling told police he wanted to kill himself because he had also raped Joanne before killing her – but he never stood trial for rape. 

On December 2, 1998, Ling pleaded guilty to murder and received a minimum of 17 years and 25 days in prison. This term expired in December 2015.

Following reviews in 2020 and 2022, his bid to move to an open prison was rejected. 

Under new legislation, a hearing into the case is expected to be heard in public later this year.

A parole board notice says: "The reasons given for the application to be heard in public: Ling committed a brutal attack, there was a public outcry following previous parole board recommendations that he be moved to open conditions, given current campaigns to protect women and girls, it is in the public interest for the parole process to be transparent and victims and the public need to understand the parole process to restore confidence in the justice system."

Ling has expressed anxiety about a public hearing and may feel inhibited, the notice said, but chair of the parole board, Caroline Corbry, concluded: "In the application for a public hearing, I have decided that there are special features, which set it apart from other cases, which may add to the proper public understanding of the parole system.

"Although there were sexual elements to the index offence, because the rape charge was left to lie on file, if released, Mr Ling would not appear on the Sex Offenders Register. It is in the interests of justice for this situation to be better understood by the public."

Some parts of the hearing will be heard in private.