THE father of murdered paperboy Stuart Gough has backed a Catshill couple's campaign for life imprisonment to mean life, after an appeal in last week's Advertiser/Mess-enger.

Geoff Gough, from West Hagley, whose son was killed 13 years ago, saw the appeal by the Edmonstons to keep their own son's killer in jail.

He plans to write to the couple through our paper to pledge his support.

Sue and Tony Edmonston are petitioning the Prime Minister Tony Blair to change the law for serious offenders to stay in prison for the rest of their lives.

Their son, Steven, was killed and sexually abused in 1981 by Bernard Maca-naspie, a neighbour.

Mr Gough said after he made a similar appeal he received a letter from Home Secretary Jack Straw which reassured him that his son's killer was unlikely ever to be released.