An angry Norfolk MP has demanded answers from the justice secretary over the potential early release of a drink‑driver who killed a 20‑year‑old woman from Stalham.
Steffan Aquarone, MP for North Norfolk, said he has written to the Ministry of Justice again after the latest reply “does not answer the central issue” in the case of Malcolm Waite.
Waite, now in his early 70s, killed Fenella Hawes in July 2022 while five times over the drink‑drive limit.
He was jailed for eight years at Norwich Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving.
Last week prime minister Andy Burnham announced a pause to the Sentencing Act 2026 early release scheme amid mounting concern from victims’ families
But the policy is set to resume for most prisoners, excluding rapists and groomers.
Mr Aquarone says that means Waite is back on the early release list, with his provisional date now understood to have moved later in the autumn rather than being scrapped altogether.
“No family should have to endure that loss,” he said.
“To then be told, with little warning, that the offender may be released earlier than they had understood is a fresh and deeply painful blow.”
He praised Miss Hawes’ family for showing “extraordinary courage” by speaking out and says they still “do not have the clarity they deserve”.
Miss Hawes' relatives were later told Waite could be freed halfway through his sentence under the early release scheme, prompting their call for any offender whose crime caused a death to be excluded.
Mr Aquarone said: “How can a crime that took Fenella’s life be treated as non‑violent for release purposes?”
Fenella’s sister, Rosie Shepherd, 31, previously said: “It very much feels like the wound of the trauma is being reopened after spending so long trying to rebuild ourselves.
"Someone who has killed someone should not be up for some review like this. The car is a weapon because you can do damage with it.”
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