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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Jasmine Norden

Michael Sams: Murderer and kidnapper to bid for freedom at parole hearing

The man who murdered a Leeds teenager and kidnapped an estate agent is set to appeal for freedom at an upcoming hearing, it has been reported.

BBC News has reported that Michael Sams, 81, has a parole hearing upcoming. At the hearing, on March 20, it will be determined 'what risk Sams would represent to the public'.

Sams killed teenager Julie Dart, from Leeds. He also abducted Stephanie Slater, who has since died of cancer.

Read more: Man stabbed to death in Chapeltown Leeds as police launch murder investigation - updates

Sams, from Keighley, was living in Nottinghamshire when he was arrested for the kidnappings. Stephanie shared the horrifying details years later of how he handcuffed her, blindfolded, and gagged her and made a makeshift coffin using a wheelie bin.

He then demanded a ransom from her employer. She was released when her employer paid.

In 1991, Sams drove to the red light district of Leeds and kidnapped Julie Dart, 18. He blindfolded and locked her up in a box life a coffin.

She tried to escape, but Sams forced her to write a letter to her fiancée demanding £140,000 for her release. Instead, he killed her brutally using a hammer - her body was found nine days later.

Sams was found guilty of murdering Dart and abducting Slater in 1993. He was sentenced to life in prison.

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