Millionaire killer of mother walking free after 22 months 'unbelievable', says MP
The MP of a mother who was killed by her millionaire partner after being subjected to violent abuse says it is "unbelievable" he has walked free from prison less than two years into his sentence.
John Broadhurst has been released halfway into his 44-month sentence for causing the death of 26-year-old Natalie Connolly in Kinver.
Her death attracted national attention and earlier this year led to the so-called “rough sex defence”, the claim that the victim consented to the injuries which caused their death, being banned in courts.
Property tycoon Broadhurst, 41, who was convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder, was released automatically at the halfway point of his sentence. The Express & Star revealed in July he was due to get out early.
Ms Connolly's twin sister Gemma Andrews said the family had been "failed" by the justice system.
The mother was left to die in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs at their home on Kenrose Mill in 2016, having sustained numerous injuries.
The original sentence was blasted as "unduly lenient" by prominent figures including Labour MP Harriet Harman, who helped lead the push for a change in the law.
Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, who was also instrumental in the campaign for change, said: "The guy did a crime which as a result of the change in the law brought about by the Domestic Abuse Bill meant he would have got a 25-year sentence. The guy is out after 20 months.
"People like him should never be released, having committed a brutal crime, after 20 months.
"The whole thing was just unbelievable. There was no justice for Natalie's family.
"I don't think anybody can dispute 20 months is simply not enough for what he's done."
Ms Connolly's sister, Gemma Andrews, reportedly said: "Spending 22 months for taking someone’s life – just how can that be possible?
“We’ve not had justice. The British justice system failed us.”
Mr Garnier previously labelled the 2018 trial as “maybe the perfect storm of inadequacy”.
