A devil worshipping paedophile who knifed a boy to death after being let loose to kill when cops failed to bring a stalking case against him could be free in months.
Edward Crowley, now 76, stabbed 12-year-old Diego Pineiro-Villar around 30 times in March 2000, in a case that shocked the nation and shone a spotlight on failings in the justice system even 20 years ago.
Crowley, who was born Henry Alan Bibby, was obsessed with early 20th-century satanist Aleister Crowley and changed his name in tribute in 1998.
Diego stepped in to stop other children throwing stones at homeless Crowley when they were throwing stones at him in a London park.
Weeks later, despite Diego’s mother reporting him for stalking, Crowley was freed by the court and followed the 12-year-old to Covent Garden where he stabbed him to death more than 20 times with a knife in front of horrified onlookers.
Although Crowley was jailed for life in February the following year, the paranoid schizophrenic is understood to have launched a parole bid as soon as he became eligible in August 2022.
He is set to be referred again later this year.
That means he could be released then, or refused or a hearing could be set where that is discussed and decided by a panel.
Other children had been throwing stones at homeless Crowley at a London park and kind hearted Diego Pineiro stepped in to stop the bullying.
The two became pals and Crowley went on to lavish attention on the youngster, taking him to amusement arcades, cinemas and the swimming pool.
But their relationship soon took a more sinister turn.
He started to stalk the schoolboy and was later charged with harassment. He had previously been arrested three times but police shockingly found no evidence of indecency.
The jobless drifter had written graffiti on the boy’s school gates and a message written in typewriter correction fluid was found on a playground.
The youngster’s mum later said they had planned to move back to Spain to escape the stalker.
He was charged with harassing Diego.
Despite police objections, Crowley was freed on bail prior to the court case. Diego was escorted to and from school and given a panic button on a mobile phone.
His relatives claimed the warning signs had been there and Crowley should never have been walking the streets. Tragically, they were right.
Six weeks later he followed him to Covent Garden and stabbed him to death more than 20 times with a knife in front of horrified onlookers.
Crawley was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in February 2001.
The victim’s mother Angeles Villar-Fernandez – with other relatives – threw water, plastic containers and court files at Teessider Crowley as details of the case were read out.
A report concluded that the murder could not have been foreseen by the authorities and the blame rested with Crowley.
But nearly 60 recommendations were made which highlighted a lack of communication between social, mental health and child protection services.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said he was refused Parole in August 2022 but was set to be referred again later this year.
This means he could be released straight away, rejected or a hearing date set.