Knife Killers of Ben Kinsella Transferred to Open Prisons, Day Release Looms
Two men convicted of murdering 16-year-old Ben Kinsella, brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, have been moved to open prisons and could soon qualify for temporary release. Juress Kika and Jade Braithwaite, who were handed life sentences with a minimum term of 19 years for the brutal 2008 stabbing, have been transferred following Parole Board recommendations.
Potential for Day Release Under Home Office Rules
Under current Home Office regulations, the pair could become eligible for day release or weekend home visits as they approach the end of their sentences. This development represents a traumatic blow for Brooke Kinsella, who has campaigned extensively for tougher sentences for knife-related killings since her brother's death.
Ben Kinsella was just 16 years old when he was ambushed and stabbed 11 times by a gang in Islington, North London, in June 2008. The attack occurred as he celebrated completing his GCSE exams with friends, including the son of television actress Linda Robson. The teenager lost approximately 30 pints of blood in the assault and later died in hospital with his family at his bedside.
Parole Board Recommendations and Ministry of Justice Confirmation
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Kika, now 35, received a Parole Board recommendation for transfer to an open prison in June 2025 and has since been moved. A spokesperson for the Parole Board emphasised that such recommendations are made only when panels are satisfied that a prisoner's risk to the public has diminished sufficiently to be manageable in an open environment.
The Parole Board stated: "We will only make a recommendation for open conditions if a Parole Board panel is satisfied that the risk to the public has reduced sufficiently to be manageable in an open prison. A move to open conditions involves testing the prisoner's readiness for any potential return into the community in future."
Similarly, Braithwaite, now 36, had a parole hearing in November last year where the board recommended his transfer to open conditions, which the Ministry of Justice subsequently accepted.
Details of the Fatal Attack and Subsequent Campaign
The murder occurred in the early hours of June 29, 2008, outside the Shillibeers pub in Islington. What began as a minor dispute escalated dramatically when Braithwaite called for backup from Michael Alleyne and Juress Kika. As Ben Kinsella left the pub with friends, he was cornered by the three men and stabbed repeatedly.
At the Old Bailey trial in 2009, Judge Brian Barker described the attack as "brutal, cowardly and totally unjustified." All three perpetrators received life sentences with minimum terms of 19 years.
In response to her brother's death, Brooke Kinsella established the Ben Kinsella Trust, which campaigns to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives. The family also created the Ben Kinsella Exhibition at Finsbury Library, featuring a life-size prison cell and actors demonstrating the consequences of knife crime. The exhibition has welcomed nearly 12,000 visitors since 2012.
Brooke Kinsella's Campaign for Tougher Sentencing
Brooke Kinsella has been instrumental in advocating for stricter sentencing for knife murders. Her efforts contributed to legal changes that now impose a minimum 25-year sentence for murders committed with a knife "taken to the scene with intent." Reflecting on the decade since her brother's death in 2018, she expressed ongoing concern about knife crime prevalence, stating: "Every time I hear of another death I'm distraught knowing what the family are going through."
Both Kika and Braithwaite will become eligible for release on licence in two years' time, having served their minimum 19-year terms. Michael Alleyne, the third perpetrator, has not yet been referred to the Parole Board. The Ministry of Justice maintains that life-sentenced prisoners must pass rigorous risk assessments before any transfer to open conditions and can be returned to closed prisons if they violate rules.
