Baby P: Tracey Connelly set to be released from prison despite government challenge

The Parole Board rejected a government challenge

The Parole Board has rejected a government challenge against its ruling and is set to release Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, from prison. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab had asked the Parole Board to reconsider their decision to release Connelly who was jailed in 2008 over the death of her 17-month-old son, Peter, who suffered more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back. Raab on Thursday tweeted that the decision to release Connelly "demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul". https://twitter.com/DominicRaab/status/1522211641772761088 Baby P was visited by social workers, police, and health professionals 60 times in the eight months before his death, in a case that sparked widespread outrage. Responding to the decision, Raab said 40-year-old Connelly's actions were "pure evil" and the choice made by the board demonstrates why it "needs a fundamental overhaul - including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders". The Parole Board decided Connelly was fit for release in March, despite three bids for her to remain behind bars. A spokesman said in a statement: “Following the reconsideration application from the secretary of state, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational, as stated in the reconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld.” https://twitter.com/ByTomWells/status/1522211617533947904 Connelly has been released on licence once before in 2013 but was recalled to prison just two years later for breaching her parole conditions. Connelly admitted abusing Peter and was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years. Her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were convicted of the same offence. Related links:

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