Jim Gordon denied parole for another five years

Incarcerated rocker Jim Gordon has been denied parole until at least 2018 after lawmakers ruled he is still not ready to rejoin society after murdering his mother in 1983. The session drummer, who co-wrote Eric Clapton’s classic track Layla and worked with the Beach Boys and John Lennon, was sentenced to 16 years to life after he was convicted of killing his mum at her North Hollywood home.
A lawyer for Gordon, who first became eligible for parole in 1992, appeared before a California board at the incarcerated musician’s most recent bid for freedom in April (13) to request a hearing postponement, claiming the 67 year old has now refused to meet with his legal counsel.
However, the request for a delay was rejected and Los Angeles County deputy district attorney Alexis de la Garza argued that he would pose a serious risk to the public if he was released from prison.
She told the three-member panel that the musician, who has long struggled with substance abuse issues, still shows symptoms of schizophrenia and is “medically and psychologically noncompliant”, reports RollingStone.com.
She added, “This is one of the saddest cases that we have in prison. We have an individual who is seriously psychologically incapacitated, and he is a danger when he is not taking his medication.”
The three-person panel ruled in favour of the prosecution and suggested he be denied parole for five years. The decision will be finalised in August (13).