IPSWICH: Facing today’s anniversary of his sister’s death, Remy Wasyluk has spoken of his anger at the injustice of her killer being allowed out on day release during the SAME week.

On February 21, 2009 Kate Wasyluk, 25, and her friend Emma Harold, 26, were killed by disqualified drink-driver Scott Nicholls.

Twenty years old at the time of the horrific crash, Nicholls had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs when his speeding car crashed into the pair as they walked home from a night out at St Clement’s Sports and Social Club in Foxhall Road.

His third victim, Emma’s younger sister Beccy, who was 25 at the time, suffered life-threatening injuries, fighting to survive in hospital before a gruelling period of rehabilitation and learning to walk again.

Nicholls was sentenced to eight years detention after admitting death by dangerous driving. But Ipswich Crown Court heard in September 2009, Nicholls was deemed to have mental health issues, after assessments by psychiatrists, meaning he was sent to serve his sentence in a mental hospital rather than prison.

Mr Wasyluk, 30, of Crouch End, London, said he and his parents Dot Richardson and Leon Wasyluk were informed by the probation service of Nicholls’ day release on February 10.

The letter states: “We have been notified by hospital staff that the offender SN has been granted leave for a period of time, one day next week.

“This will take place at a venue which is over 20 miles distant from Ipswich.”

Reacting to the ill-timed news, Mr Wasyluk questioned why Nicholls is deemed suitable for day release but not fit to serve his sentence in prison.

He said: “At a time when as a family we facing the third year anniversary of Kate and Emma being killed by Scott Nicholls’ thoughtless stupidity, we receive a letter telling us how he is to be let out from hospital for a day release in Suffolk.

“The so-called specialists deem him to be of ill health and unable to serve his time in prison and instead in a mental health hospital. However, they allow him the compassion of day release.

“In the case of my sister, she will never have the choice to spend a day with family and it appalls me that Scott Nicholls will likely be released next spring without serving any of his sentence in prison.

“From 2013, he’ll be free to move on with his life, something that my family will never be able to fully move on from. He took two lives and destroyed many more.”

Mrs Richardson, who lives in Chelmondiston, added: “If he is well enough for day release he is well enough to go to prison.”

n Do you think Nicholls’ sentence is tough enough? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk