Jane Andrews escape triggered painful memories for Rick Cressman
Nov 25 2009 by Christina Savvas, Birmingham Post
When former Royal family aide Jane Andrews absconded from prison this week it triggered painful memories for the distraught Warwickshire family of her murder victim. Christina Savvas reports.
“It makes it all feel very fresh as though it just happened yesterday even though it has been nearly 10 years,” an embattled Rick Cressman says moments after a media storm has whipped through his hotel.
Sat inside Nailcote Hall, in Berkswell, Warwickshire, Mr Cressman had found himself in front of numerous TV camera after Jane Andrews escape from East Sutton Park open prison on Sunday.
The former dresser for the Duchess of York, who murdered his brother Tom in 2000, is now back behind bars but it is clear Rick is calling for heads to roll over her escape.
Andrews, 42 was jailed for life for stabbing Tom to death in a frenzied attack after he refused to marry her.
“The whole set of circumstances of her escape have been very similar to when it first happened. All of the media and having to rush to London, having to deal with police. It has felt completely unbelievable and made me feel all over again that what has happened is such a tragedy,” he explains.
There is a feeling of complete sadness to all of us and complete chaos in your life. We feel like we are grieving all over again.”
Andrews was moved to the minimum security jail last month after successfully convincing a parole board of her remorse, and had been removed from suicide watch just days before her escape.
She was due to be eligible for release in 2012 despite being jailed for life for murder in 2001.
But devastated relatives say she has never shown any remorse.
Mr Cressman attended the parole hearing to oppose her move to an open prison.
He said: “They had 250 pages in her support of her case from psychiatrists and others in authority. I had a one-and-a-half-page statement that had been prepared by me, my mother and by other family members.
“They tell me she has shown signs of remorse but what does that mean, either you are sorry or you are not. Remorse is not a commodity you can buy, it comes from within and it has not come from her.
“And anything she says now feels like an apology of convenience. If she genuine it should have been shown a long time ago.”
Mr Cressman said he is relieved Andrews has been tracked down.
