(ANSA) - ROME, OCTOBER 18 - The prisoner who last November helped stop the terrorist attack on London Bridgea by confronting Usman Khan with a narwhal fang will see his barely reduced thanks to the intervention of the queen who granted him royal grace, a case extremely rare.
Steven Gallant, sentenced to 17 years for murder in 2005, was on his first day of probation following a detainee rehabilitation course when the attack occurred in Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge last November.
Khan also participated in the course, armed with a fake suicide vest and two knives, he shot and killed the coordinators, Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, before fleeing to the bridge and injuring others.
Gallant detached the narwhal lazanna from a wall, where it hung as an heirloom, and chased the bomber across the bridge to try to stop him with the help of other passersby.
Khan was later killed by the police.
Gallant, 42, praised for risking his life, was granted the "royal prerogative of pardon," an extremely rare case of acquittal for a convicted murderer.
Gallant will see 17-year sentence reduced by 10 months and could apply for parole next June, online Mirror reports. The Ministry of Justice said the queen was advised to pardon Gallant for "exceptionally brave actions [... ] who helped save people's lives despite the enormous risk to his. "
The decision was backed by the family of firefighter Barrie Jackson who Gallant killed outside a pub in Hull.
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