Michelle’s sister, Lisa, spoke of the overwhelming emotions felt among the family, as her murderer was granted parole this week.
Michelle’s life was taken in 2008 by John Wilson when she was aged just 17.
Lisa has always said that her late sibling gives the family the strength to continue their fight, but admits it’s difficult to come to terms with the latest news.
Michelle Stewart was murdered when she was just 17 (Image: NQ Archive) “I’m quite numb to the news to be honest,” Lisa said.
“Because I really didn’t think he would get it this time.
“Other times we’ve been worried that he’ll get out, but with how it’s taken from September until now made us think that he wouldn’t get out this time.
“It’s disappointing and I’m going to take it further because we were told that his hearing was due to start at 1.30pm and by 4.30pm we hadn’t heard anything and then I had to phone.
“Then I got phoned back at quarter to five to say that they had decided to grant parole and the only thing she could tell me was that his license conditions are that he refrains from contacting any of Michelle’s friends or family, and has exclusions zones applied to North, South and East Ayrshire.
“I wasn’t told any more than that and I’m looking at getting some more clarification because we were asking if he would be electronically monitored. How else would they police that properly?”
READ MORE: Michelle Stewart family vow to keep battling for murdered teen
Wilson was handed a life sentence and told he would have to serve 12 years behind bars before being considered for parole for the murder of Michelle almost two decades ago.
Wilson had been denied parole on four previous occasions and had a fifth decision deferred back in September, with a hearing set for this week.
Lisa added: “They shouldn’t have freedom when they’re out and there should be restrictions that are heavily monitored because it’s a life sentence that’s in place.
“Although he’s outside of Ayrshire, it has its good and bad points because we don’t know where he is, so any time we go outside of Ayrshire we’re going to be anxious that we bump into him.
“It’s galling to know that he can be out and get on with his life and Michelle’s lying in a cemetery and he’s the one that took her life away from her.
“He’s never shown any remorse and that’s one of the hardest things to deal with. A ‘sorry’ is never going to bring Michelle back, but not showing any remorse almost comes across that he can justify what he did to Michelle, so how is that someone who can be walking the streets?”
The family has been fighting for justice since Lisa’s death (Image: NQ Archive) Following Michelle’s murder, the family set up Michelle’s Law with the aim of raising awareness of issues they have found throughout their journey, including an apparent lack of transparency in some cases.
Although they have been given the news that the family always feared, Lisa insists that their fight will continue.
She added: “Getting this very basic information is frustrating and exhausting, because we have to go chasing up and it makes us feel like we’re being restricted and punished in a way.
“That’s half the battle of what the campaign has been about, to get more transparency and fairness for families.
“There are things that we should be privy to, as well as the general public for their safety.
“He’ll most likely be out today or in the next couple of days, and it’s very hard to come to terms with the fact he’ll effectively be getting on with his life.
“The next step is to raise our experience with the parole system as a whole and how we feel we’ve been treated, because there still needs to be many changes to favour the victims.”
John Wilson, aka Sanken, was convicted of Michelle’s killing (Image: NQ Archive) The Parole Board for Scotland (PBS) said it does not comment on individual cases.
A PBS spokesperson added: “Any registered victims on the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) will be notified, by the PBS, of the consideration outcome along with any licence conditions that relate to the victim and/or their family should the decision be to release.”