ESSEX BOYS KILLER TO BE FREED

Drug trafficker, 81, gets parole 30yrs after shotgun executions

- BY TOM PETTIFOR

A GANGLAND killer jailed over the notorious Essex Boys murders is set to be released within weeks.

Michael Steele, 81, was convicted of killing three drug dealers with a shotgun in their Range Rover 30 years ago. He has always said he is innocent.

Steele and his friend Jack Whomes were given three life sentences in 1998 for the killing of Tony Tucker, 38, Pat Tate, 37, and Craig Rolfe, 26, in Rettendon, Essex, on December 7, 1995.

After a Parole Board hearing on November 12 last year, a summary its findings published this week revealed he has been cleared for release of It said: "None of the witnesses considered that his risks would be imminent if Mr Steele was released to the community at this stage."