A pregnant woman was stabbed 24 times by her ex-partner and is now living in fear after learning he may be considered for open prison sooner than expected. Babur Raja was sentenced in 2016 for attempting to murder Natalie Queiroz in Sutton Coldfield. She has been trying to rebuild her life, finding comfort in his incarceration. However, a recent government rule change means Raja could be eligible for open prison this year, rather than in 2029 as initially thought by his victim. This news has left Queiroz feeling anxious and apprehensive about the safety of herself and her children. Open prisons have minimal security and allow selected inmates to spend most of their day outside for work or resettlement purposes. The rule change affects offenders serving extended determinate sentences, like Raja. Previously, eligibility for open prison was tied to parole eligibility but now can be considered sooner, raising concerns for victims like Queiroz. While the Ministry of Justice defends the change, Queiroz believes there should be exceptions for cases like hers where victims were deliberately targeted. She worries that offenders may not have truly rehabilitated within the prison system. Queiroz, who received an MBE for her work with young people, learned about the rule change incidentally and believes more safeguards should be in place to protect victims in such cases.
The daughter of Ms. Queiroz survived despite her leg being amputated due to complications. Raja was convicted of attempted child destruction. The Prison Reform Trust has supported the Ministry of Justice’s decision. Pia Sinha, the Trust’s chief executive, emphasized the crucial role of open prisons in rehabilitation and resettlement. She stated, “Open prisons are vital for allowing individuals to show progress and reduced risk before release.” These changes in transfer decisions are now based on individual risk assessments rather than just sentence length. This ensures that those who would benefit most from open conditions can access them, reducing the risk of re-offending and aiding in their preparation for release.
Ms. Queiroz expressed concern about potential freedoms her ex-partner might be granted. Despite being cautious about her family’s social media presence, she worries that he could access information about her that he wouldn’t have had direct access to within the prison system. As a victim of a violent and unforeseen crime, she finds it distressing as nobody can assure her of his future behavior.
Victims Commissioner for London, Claire Waxman, believes that victims should be informed about the rule change. Urging the Ministry of Justice to improve communication and ensure impacted victims understand the implications, she highlights the importance of considering cases involving domestic abuse or ongoing risk carefully.
For more stories, follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, and Instagram.
