Knife-wielding thugs who murdered Brooke Kinsella’s brother may quickly be again on the streets as they’re moved to open prisons
Two knife-wielding thugs who murdered ex-Eastenders’ star Brooke Kinsella’s brother Ben could soon be back on the streets.
Juress Kika and Jade Braithwaite have been transferred to open prisons just months apart after Parole Board recommendations.
And under Home Office rules, the pair could soon be eligible for day release or weekend trips home.
The news will be a traumatic blow to Brooke Kinsella, who has successfully campaigned for tougher sentences for knife-killers.
The actress was devastated when Ben, 16, was ambushed and knifed 11 times by a savage gang in June 2008 while celebrating the end of his GCSEs.
Ben was on a night out with friends including the son of another TV actress – Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather – when he was set upon in the street at 2am.
He was set upon as he left a London bar after a dispute between two groups and stabbed 11 times.
Kika, Braithwaite and Michael Alleyne were sentenced in 2009 to life, with a minimum of 19 years, for the murder in Islington, North London.
Ben Kinsella (pictured), 16, was ambushed and knifed 11 times by a savage gang in June 2008
Juress Kika (pictured), from Islington, north London, could soon be eligible for day release or weekend trips home despite stabbing the 16-year-old to death
Jade Braithwaite (pictured) was sentenced to life in 2009, with a minimum of 19 years, for the murder in Islington
Low-risk prisoners are allowed to leave prison for short periods towards the end of their sentence for work or home leave – called resettlement release.
They can be authorised to work outside the jail on a daily basis without supervision or handed passes to stay with family members.
The decision to grant partial release will be taken by prison governors at the reduced security open jails.
Kika, now 35, had a Parole Board recommendation to be moved to an open prison in June 2025.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that he had been transferred.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ’We can confirm that the Parole Board recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing for Juress Kika.
‘This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions.
‘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. Prisoners moved to open conditions can be returned to closed conditions if there is concern about their behaviour.
Michael Alleyne (pictured), from Islington, was also sentenced to life after he cornered Ben alongside Braithwaite and Kika
Former Eastenders’ star Brooke Kinsella (pictured with her brother Ben) helped set up the Ben Kinsella Trust to campaign and educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives, s
‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
‘The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’
The Daily Mail has also been told that fellow thug Braithwaite, 36, had a parole hearing in November last year.
The Parole Board recommended he be transferred to an open prison and the Ministry of Justice confirmed that this had been accepted.
A spokesperson for the MoJ said: ’The murder of Ben Kinsella was one of the most shocking crimes in recent memory and our thoughts remain with his friends and family.
‘A life-sentenced prisoner must pass a strict risk assessment before any move to open conditions and we do not hesitate to move the prisoner back to closed conditions if they break the rules.’
Ben was on a night out shortly before 2am on June 29, 2008 at the Shillibeers pub in Islington, North London with friends to celebrate the end of their exams.
Outside in the pub’s courtyard area, Osman Ozdemir started an argument with a boy named in court as Alfie who he accused of giving him a ‘wrong look’.
Brooke Kinsella has successfully campaigned for tougher sentences for knife-killers
The argument escalated with Osman’s best friend Braithwate jumping to his defence and threatening Alfie.
Braithwate then rang his friend Michael Alleyne for back up who arrived at the scene with his childhood friend Juress Kika.
As Ben exited the pub with his friends they noticed they were being followed.
Ben stepped off to one side but was cornered by Braithwaite, Alleyne and Kika who stabbed him 11 times.
CCTV footage showed Ben staggering from the scene as he was supported by his friend, Linda Robson’s son Louis.
Ben lost 30 pints of blood as a result of the attack and later died in hospital with his family by his side.
The judge at the Old Bailey, the Common Serjeant of London Brian Barker, told them: ‘Your blind and heartless anger that night defies belief.
‘He had in front of him a lifetime of promise. You have taken all that away from him in a brutal, cowardly and totally unjustified attack.’
Brooke, who helped set up the Ben Kinsella Trust to campaign and educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives, said in 2018: ‘We’ve worked so hard to make a difference. Ten years on I’d like to say we are in a better place. But I can’t.
‘Every time I hear of another death I’m distraught knowing what the family are going through.’
Ben (pictured as a child) was on a night out with friends when he was set upon in the street at 2am
Ben lost 30 pints of blood as a result of the attack and later died in hospital with his family by his side
Brooke has successfully campaigned for tougher sentences for knife-killers
This law change applies if a person who murders their victim with a knife ‘taken to the scene with intent’ is convicted,
Under new rules the minimum sentence would be 25-years.
With her dad George, 59, a London taxi driver and mum Deborah, 56, an office manager, the family also set up the Ben Kinsella Exhibition at Finsbury Library, North London.
It features a life-size prison cell and actors who show some of the consequences of knife crime.
There have been nearly 12,000 visitors to the workshops since 2012.
Both Kika and Braithwaite will be eligible for release on licence in two-years time having served their minimum sentence of 19-years.
Alleyne, now 34, has not yet been referred to the Parole Board.
