The Ministry of Justice is launching a final, urgent attempt to prevent a convicted murderer from walking free, 36 years after he brutally killed a respected doctor in his own home.
A Heinous Crime and a Judge's Warning
In 1990, 25-year-old Reginald Wilson tricked his way into the Middlesbrough home of consultant dermatologist Dr David Birkett, 56, by posing as a parcel delivery driver. Once inside, Wilson launched a vicious attack, striking the doctor 17 times with a hammer. Cleveland Police later described it as one of the most violent crimes the force had ever encountered.
The victim's own teenage daughter, then just 16, made the horrific discovery of her father's body. Wilson was convicted of murder a year later at Durham Crown Court. The sentencing judge was so appalled by Wilson's extreme danger that he declared the killer should die in prison.
A Troubled Incarceration and Parole Controversy
Wilson's original life sentence was later altered to a 30-year minimum term following appeals, first reduced to 18 years before being increased again. His time behind bars was marked by profound instability. He attempted to escape from Frankland Prison in 1996 and tried to stab a prison officer the following year, leading to his placement in a high-security exceptional risk unit.
Throughout the initial investigation, Wilson taunted police with sickening letters, boasting that the killing gave him a "buzz better than smack". He was found to have an arsenal of weapons at his home and a list of police officers he intended to target.
In a surprising move in October 2025, the Parole Board ruled Wilson, who has since changed his name to Reginald Zenshen, was fit for release. The panel cited his "good progress" in open conditions and stated it was no longer necessary for public protection to keep him jailed. They noted no evidence of violence against staff or prisoners since 1999.
The Government's Last-Ditch Intervention
Justice Secretary David Lammy immediately requested the decision be reconsidered, but the Parole Board refused. Now, the Ministry of Justice is making one last bid. A spokesperson confirmed: "We have asked the Parole Board to revisit its decision after new information came to light."
This power allows the board to set aside a release decision if circumstances change after the ruling is made. The MoJ emphasised the enduring impact of the "heinous crime" and expressed sympathy for Dr Birkett's family and friends.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between the rehabilitation aims of the parole system and the enduring demand for justice for victims of exceptionally violent crimes. The nation now awaits the Parole Board's response to this final governmental challenge.
