A horrific child murderer who took part in the scandalous killing and torture of Victoria Climbie could be free from prison in weeks – and has been forgiven by her parents.
Eight-year-old Victoria died 25 years ago this month after being tortured during a sadistic campaign of abuse by Carl Manning and his girlfriend, Marie-Therese Kouao.
It was one of the country’s most harrowing child abuse cases and the pair were jailed for life.
It was one of the first cases of its kind and scale and led to a public inquiry that found Victoria was failed by numerous state agencies including social services and police.
Numerous young children have died in such circumstances across the country since, when they should have been looked after by the state.
Little Victoria was tortured by Manning and his partner, as well as forced to sleep in a black bin-liner filled with her own excrement, burnt with cigarettes, scalded with hot water and starved.
She was too tied up and hit with bike chains, hammers, wires, shoes and coat hangers and made to eat like a dog.
A report said race played a part in the authorities ignoring her. Police, social services, NHS and NSPCC all had contact with the young girl.
Victoria died in February 2000 of hypothermia and was discovered with 128 separate injuries and wounds to her body during the torture at Manning’s flat.
Carl Manning (pictured), now 52, was jailed for life in 2001 for the murder of Victoria Climbie
Eight-year-old Victoria (pictured) died 25 years ago this month after being tortured during a sadistic campaign of abuse by Carl Manning and his girlfriend, Marie-Therese Kouao
Marie-Therese Kouao (left), Victoria’s great-aunt, was complicit in her murder
Victoria Climbie pictured in 1999 after being admitted to the accident and emergency unit of North Middlesex Hospital for scalding to her head and face
The now 52-year-old was jailed for life in 2001 and ordered to serve at least 21 years.
But the former bus driver has now made a new bid for freedom with the Parole Board and has been granted a third hearing.
A panel of experts will look at his case and analyse his behaviour in prison, how he reacts in situations and whether he is remorseful for the killing.
But it would appear he has the forgiveness of her parents. Francis and Berthe entrusted Victoria into the care of Marie, who brought her to England from the Ivory Coast to be educated for a new life.
Now, it can be revealed that the parents of Victoria have forgiven Manning, but not Marie. They have also forgiven the various agencies that failed her.
Writing online for the Forgiveness Project, the couple say: ‘Initially, when we first heard about Victoria we could not forgive. We are human beings and no human being is perfect.
‘We were tormented by guilt, anguish and hatred, and could not understand how our daughter’s life could have been destroyed by someone who had promised to take care of her. Victoria was very, very precious to us.
‘We had so many expectations and so much hope for our child. Even so, from the very first day we heard about the death of Victoria, we began praying that one day we would be able to forgive.
‘If you want to live happily and at ease in this life you have to learn to forgive. It shouldn’t matter if the person is unable to ask for forgiveness or even acknowledge that they’ve done wrong, because forgiveness cannot be based on conditions.
Francis and Berthe Climbie, Victoria’s parents, revealed that they have forgiven Carl Manning, but not Marie
Francis and Berthe were tormented by ‘guilt, anguish and hatred’ following the murder of their daughter
Victoria (pictured) was discovered with 128 separate injuries and wounds to her body during the torture at Manning’s flat
‘So we’re not waiting for Marie-Therese to ask for our forgiveness: whether she asks for it or not we have forgiven her.
‘But while Marie-Therese has shown no remorse, her boyfriend, Carl Manning, did ask for our forgiveness. The sad thing is he hasn’t achieved freedom – not in his body, his mind or his soul. We can’t ignore their culpability.
‘Whatever wrong people do in life there will be a price to pay, but it is not for us to punish. The legal system has its way of dealing with people who are not fit to live among humans.
‘We have also been able to forgive all those agencies and individuals who were shown through the public inquiry to have failed our daughter.’
The essay they wrote also explains how Victoria left the care of her parents.
They continued: ‘First, the child is murdered, but if you as the parent then focus only on retribution, you extinguish the very spirit and memory of your child.
‘Many people in England have asked us why we gave Victoria away. I want to say that we didn’t give her away. In African society children are not just the children of their parents, but the children of their aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters.
‘The greatest privilege of all is for a relative to offer to educate your child abroad. In Africa we are only able to survive because those who are successful feel a duty to help those who are not. What comfort is revenge? Our greatest desire is that something positive should come out of this tragedy. That’s why we’re opening a school in the Ivory Coast.
‘It will be a centre of excellence providing education for children from all around the world. The sole reason for Victoria coming to England was to get an education. This school is our way of immortalising the spirit and the name of our child.’
Manning has served some of his sentence at HMP Wakefield, home to Harold Shipman and Ian Huntley – among many others.
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. 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.
Following her death there was a promised shake-up of social services when a public inquiry found in 2003 that hospitals, police and social workers missed 12 opportunities to rescue Victoria.
During one social services visit, Victoria had an unkempt appearance, with one staff member noting that she looked like a child from an Action Aid advert.
She also was seen by medics and taken to hospital. The twisted carer told church leaders that demons were inside Victoria but they failed to take action.
One even offered prayers for Victoria to ‘cast out the devil.’
She later died and the pair were arrested, charged and jailed.
Manning has served some of his sentence at HMP Wakefield, home to Harold Shipman and Ian Huntley – among many others.
