Marko Balaz eligible for early release after Woolwich killing
Jodian Taylor says news of the potential sentence reduction feels like a slap in the face.
Incident → evidence → outcomeMarko Balaz is eligible for early release under the Sentencing Act 2026 following his conviction for the manslaughter of 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell. The teenager was stabbed to death in Woolwich on 22 September 2024. Balaz, of Abbey Wood, received an 11-year sentence for the killing, having been cleared of murder by the court.
Impact of sentencing reforms
The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces an earned release scheme designed to address prison overcrowding. Under these new rules, most prisoners serving fixed-term sentences will be released after serving one-third of their term. Previously, Balaz would have been required to serve two-thirds of his 11-year sentence before becoming eligible for release.
The reforms do not apply to all offenders. Imri Doue, who was also involved in the killing, received a life sentence with a 21-year minimum term. The new laws exclude certain violent or sexual offences from the reduced release points.
Family response to probation notice
Jodian Taylor, the mother of Daejaun Campbell, said she felt as though she had been slapped in the face after being notified of the legal changes. She received an email through the Probation Service's Victim Contact Scheme in June stating that the law change could affect Balaz's sentence.
“I feel as though the systems that are in place to protect us cause more harm than good.”
Taylor noted that Balaz was already under electronic monitoring at the time of the stabbing. She expressed frustration that overcrowding should not dictate the consequences for those who take a life. The Ministry of Justice stated that the reforms aim to improve the management of offenders in the community through intensive supervision.
Safeguarding failures identified
The killing follows a child safeguarding practice review by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. That review, published last month, found that there were multi-agency failings in the handling of Campbell's case. Taylor had previously sought assistance from the police, social services, and the boy's school regarding his grooming by a criminal gang.
Questions this report answers
01What is the new Sentencing Act 2026?
The Sentencing Act 2026 introduces an earned release scheme to manage prison overcrowding. It changes the release point for most prisoners from serving two-thirds of a sentence to serving just one-third. This reform follows an independent review led by former justice secretary David Gauke.
02How does this affect Marko Balaz?
Marko Balaz was sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter. Under previous laws, he would have served two-thirds of that term before release. Due to the new legislation, he is now eligible for early release after serving only one-third of his sentence.
03What did the Greenwich review find?
A child safeguarding practice review conducted by the Royal Borough of Greenwich found that there were multi-agency failings in the case of Daejaun Campbell. This review was published last month following the death of the 15-year-old in Woolwich.
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