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The mother of a 15-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed has expressed deep distress after learning that one of her son’s killers might be released from prison earlier than expected. Daejaun Campbell was killed on 22 September 2024 in Woolwich, south-east London. While Marko Balaz, who was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, is currently serving an 11-year sentence, recent legislative changes have introduced the possibility of his early release. This stands in contrast to Imri Doue, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum 21-year term for Daejaun’s murder and is not eligible for early release.
Jodian Taylor, Daejaun’s mother, revealed she was informed via an email from the Probation Service that the new Sentencing Act 2026 might affect Balaz’s sentence length. The Act, which was introduced following recommendations by former justice secretary David Gauke, aims to reduce prison overcrowding through an earned release scheme. Under previous laws, Balaz would have been expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence before qualifying for release, but the recent changes shorten this period significantly.
The Ministry of Justice communicated to Taylor through the Probation Service’s Victim Contact Scheme that these reforms are designed to enhance sentencing effectiveness and improve offender management within the community. The letter detailed that released offenders would enter an intensive supervision phase and most would be subject to electronic monitoring. However, Taylor found this information hardly reassuring, noting that Balaz was wearing an electronic tag when her son was killed. She said, “No length of sentence can ease the pain that they’ve caused,” adding, “Now knowing that one of them may have a sentence potentially reduced, it was a further slap in the face getting that email in June.”
Taylor also commented on Balaz’s history and involvement in the crime, pointing out that during sentencing, it emerged that Balaz had encouraged Doue just before the fatal attack. The court also considered Balaz’s previous offenses, including drug-related crimes and possession of a knife. Taylor expressed frustration with the message such early release policies send to offenders, stating, “I don’t understand what message you’re trying to give a perpetrator like this in terms of consequences for their actions, but this isn’t it.” She emphasized that those responsible for taking a life should not have overcrowded prisons as their main concern.
The Sentencing Act 2026, which came into effect on 1 October, modifies release procedures for fixed-term prisoners. Most will now be eligible for release after serving one-third of their sentences, instead of the earlier benchmarks of 40% or halfway. This applies primarily to the standard determinate sentence category in England and Wales. Some prisoners convicted of violent or sexual crimes and serving sentences of four years or longer will have adjusted release points, moving from serving two-thirds down to halfway through their sentence. However, this reform excludes offenders convicted of rape and certain child sexual abuse and grooming crimes. The Ministry of Justice has pledged to prioritize keeping the most dangerous offenders incarcerated, beyond restrictions already in place for murderers and those convicted of the most serious sexual offenses
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