The mother of Baby P, who died after suffering dozens of injuries at the hands of her partner and his brother, is to be released from prison. Tracey Connelly was jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the 17-month-old's death at her north London home on August 3, 2007.
A judge has today (May 5) given the green light for Connelly to be released after a Government challenge was rejected by the Parole Board. It was the fourth review made by the Parole Board about her release, the Mirror reports.
Little Peter, who was known as Baby P, had suffered over 50 injuries over an eight-month period. They were caused by Connelly's partner, Steven Barker, and his paedophile brother Jason Owen.
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The toddler had been on the at-risk register with social workers, police and health professionals making 60 visits to the family's home in Tottenham. Connelly pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to causing or allowing his death.
She was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection, with a minimum term of five years. The latest decision by the Parole Board was meant to be made last year, but had been delayed pending more reports and information.
Connelly was released in 2013 but was locked up again two years later after breaking the terms of her parole by selling indecent photographs of herself online. In March, the Parole Board decided she was suitable for release, having rejected three previous bids.
But last month Justice Secretary Dominic Raab asked the board, which is independent of government, to re-examine the decision under the so-called reconsideration mechanism. This was her fourth review by the Parole Board since she was jailed. The decision was meant to be made last year but had been delayed pending more reports and information.
Mr Raab tweeted: ''Tracey Connelly's cruelty towards her son, baby Peter, was pure evil. "The decision to release her demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul - including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders - so that it serves and protects the public.''
The Parole Board considered her case for a third time in 2019 following previous reviews in 2015 and 2017, and refused to either release her or move her to an open prison. In 2020 she lost an appeal against the latest Parole Board decision not to release her.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said today: "In summary, the judge has concluded that the panel did take into consideration all evidence mentioned by the application and made rational conclusions. The reconsideration decision clarifies that the weight is given to the evidence given by the Secretary of States witnesses, who supported release, and the proposed external controls, was proportionate and the reasons were clearly outlined in the decision letter.
"The final ground on the rationality of the outcome was also rejected on the grounds of not reaching the threshold, as defined by law, for becoming unreasonable.”
