A bus driver who thought he’d got away with the perfect murder of a student and was only trapped by a chance DNA test has a parole hearing and could be freed.
Michael Robinson escaped justice for four years after brutally killing Sara Cameron, 23, just yards from her home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside in April 2000.
The former soldier, then 30, stalked Finnish-born Sara as she walked from a Metro station, attacked and tried to rape her and then choked her to death.
Her naked body was found under a hedge in a field close to her home on April 21, 2000.
can reveal that the now 49-year-old will have his hearing on February 5, 2024. It will be his second parole hearing after his minimum tariff of 17-years expired.
Sara’s death sparked one of the region’s longest-running unsolved killing mysteries.
Despite almost 3,000 calls to the murder incident room and more than 5,000 DNA samples being taken from men on North Tyneside, no substantial links were ever made.
Robinson, who had moved from Tyneside to Newhaven, East Sussex, believed he had got away with the murder of the sports management student at Northumbria University.
Michael Robinson (pictured in 2004) escaped justice for four years after brutally killing Sara Cameron, 23, just yards from her home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside in April 2000
The former soldier stalked Finnish-born Sara Cameron (pictured), as she walked from a Metro station, attacked and tried to rape her and then choked her to death
However, four years later, detectives had a major breakthrough in the case. Robinson had been arrested for a minor criminal damage matter, but after he was routinely swabbed for the incident, his DNA matched with the samples from Sara’s murder.
Robinson confessed to the killing in a series of interviews after his arrest. In October 2004 he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years in prison.
At his trial at Newcastle Upon Tyne Crown Court in October 2004, Paul Worsley QC, prosecuting, said: ‘For four years, he showed no remorse and breathed not a word of what he had done and moved from the area.
‘He knew the family of Sara Cameron would not be able to grieve or rest until her killer was brought to justice.’
The court heard that Sara had been celebrating with friends on Good Friday in April 2000, the day before she was due to fly out to a ‘dream job’ at the Sydney Olympics.
Robinson admitted after his arrest that he had developed fantasies about rape and violence and had previously stalked two other women.
The divorced father-of-one had chatted to friends about the murder hunt and joked with his mother about detectives questioning one of his friends.
Robinson’s family told police he had drunk heavily and smoked cannabis, suddenly turning on his brothers and sister without provocation.
After the hearing, the victim’s father, Roy Cameron, an architect from Paignton, Devon, said: ‘We will always have proud memories of our beautiful daughter. Because we are parents, our heart goes out to the family of this man for the stain they will have to bear. May God forgive him.’
Robinson was described as ‘exceptionally dangerous’ by Mr Justice Henriques at his sentencing.
can reveal that Robinson, now 49-years-old, will have his hearing on February 5, 2024
A Parole Board spokesperson said: ‘An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Michael Robinson and is scheduled to take place in February 2024.
‘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.
‘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 the 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 including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
‘The prisoner and witnesses are then 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.’