A brutal child killer who took part in the shocking murder of Victoria Climbie in 2000 has been granted a fresh parole hearing in his bid for freedom.

Carl Manning was jailed for life after being found guilty of the murder of eight-year-old Victoria along with his girlfriend Marie-Therese Kouao.

The cruel death of the little girl was one of Britain’s most horrific child abuse cases and led to a public inquiry that found that Victoria was failed by numerous state agencies.

The youngster, who died in February 2020 of hypothermia, was found with 128 separate wounds to her body after suffering months of torture at the hands of Manning and her great-aunt Kouao at his flat in north London.

Manning, now 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years behind bars.

The former bus driver has made a fresh appeal for freedom and has been granted a third parole hearing.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘We can confirm the parole review of Carl Manning has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.

‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

Victoria Climbie (pictured), eight, died after suffering from horrific cruelty by her great aunt Marie Therese Kouao and Kouao’s boyfriend Carl Manning

Carl Manning (pictured) has been granted a parole hearing following his latest appeal for freedom

Carl Manning (pictured) has been granted a parole hearing following his latest appeal for freedom

‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

‘Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.’

They added: ‘It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’

Manning’s relationship with Kouao was identified as the key to Victoria’s murder, at a previous parole hearing in 2023, which was refused.

A summary stated: ‘These risk factors had included…his relationship during which he had been willing to use sadistic violence.’

The document added that Manning had failed to complete ‘intensive’ jail courses designed to address his behaviour.

It continued:’ Mr Manning sometimes found it difficult to engage with staff supervising him.’

Victoria was born in the Ivory Coast but moved aged seven France and later the UK with her great aunt, Marie-Therese Kouao, to give her a better life.

Just 18 months later in February 2000, she was found murdered in the most horrific manner.

Victoria was tied up for 24 hours a day and forced to sleep in a bin liner filled with her own excrement in a bathtub after the severity of her injuries rendered her incontinent. 

The girl was also branded ‘Satan’, burned with cigarettes and a hot tap, made to eat food like a dog and hit with bike chains, hammers, coat hangers and shoes.

An inquiry revealed that numerous opportunities were missed by doctors and child protection authorities to save Victoria.

It also emerged that Kouao had called Haringey social services and said Manning had been sexually abusing Victoria before withdrawing the claim the next day.

Kouao (left) with Victoria. She and Manning were both jailed for life after being convicted of murder

Kouao (left) with Victoria. She and Manning were both jailed for life after being convicted of murder

Social workers visited Manning’s studio flat in Tottenham, north London, three times but after getting no answer, wrongly assumed Kouao had moved to France.

They closed the case on February 25, 2000 – the day Victoria died.

The child was rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia, weighing just three stone and 10 pounds and suffering 128 injuries.

She died soon after and Manning, then 28, and Kouao, then 44, were jailed for life after being convicted of murder.

At his sentencing, judge Richard Hawkins said: ‘What [Victoria] endured was truly unimaginable. She died at both your hands, a lonely, drawn-out death.’

Giving evidence by videotape at the public inquiry into Victoria’s death, Manning said in 2002: ‘I cannot account for my behaviour and my actions, but the least I can do is apologise and say how sorry I am towards the family of Victoria Climbié.

‘It may not mean much to them now, but it is a regrettable situation, and I am very sorry for what happened.’

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