Mother who allowed her toddler to be murdered set to be freed early after just three years under Labour scheme
A mother who let her daughter be murdered by her evil boyfriend will be back on the streets within a year - after serving just one third of her sentence.Dana Carr, 27, is set to be free by Christmas after being jailed in December 2023 for allowing the death of two-year-old Maya Chappell, who was shaken to death by Carr's boyfriend Michael Daymond.Maya's father, James Chappell, had sought to intervene to save the youngster, but Carr deliberately turned a blind eye to her boyfriend's sickening pattern of abuse.The toddler's family had called on the Prime Minister to review the early release scheme - but have since learned that Carr will be allowed free earlier than planned thanks to Labour.Around 1,000 criminals including rapists and paedophiles have been exempted from the early release scheme and will serve their sentences as planned, following an outcry.But some killers, such as two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, remain eligible for release despite the law changing to make life sentences mandatory for people who kill emergency service workers.The early release scheme was paused in late July pending an 'urgent review' by Mr Burnham but it was confirmed today that the scheme will be going ahead from October. Justice Secretary Alex Norris has refused to back down on the scheme, telling the BBC that the government wanted to 'go further' but stated drawing the scheme wider would cause a 'prison capacity crisis.'Andy Burnham, who is now on holiday, acknowledged the 'anger, anxiety and distress' caused to victims by the early-release plans. He said the exclusion of rapists and the worst paedophiles were 'significant changes' but acknowledged 'there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentences shortened'.But Maya's great-aunt Gemma Chappell, 48, said Andy Burnham's concession to child safety campaigners and victims 'doesn't go far enough'. Maya Chappell was killed by her mother's boyfriend, Michael Daymond, after he shook her violently at home in 2022 Her mother Dana Carr is due to be released after serving just three years in prison for allowing her daughter's death Maya Chappell's great-aunt Gemma Chappell (pictured) fears the youngster's mother will re-offend if released earlyShe said: 'We welcome the fact that the government has listened and made a decision to block the release of rapists and child sex offenders.'But it just doesn't go far enough. It's almost like they are saying some victims matter and others don't. Words escape me.'Carr had Maya with one-time partner James Chappell, but allowed the tot to be abused by boyfriend Daymond, who is serving a life term with a minimum term of 20 years, over the course of several weeks.He had sought to cover up his abuse, writing in one text to Carr: 'Babe I really hope you don't think I'm doing this to her.' Carr had replied: 'I would never ever think that.' She even said in one message to her ex, Mr Chappell: 'I don't know what to do... she's marking herself ridic [ridiculous].' Daymond, a womaniser and steroid user, went on to violently shake Maya at home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, in September 2022 - just nine weeks after he entered into a relationship with Carr. He phoned 999 - and as paramedics fought to save Maya's life, he phoned the Department of Work and Pensions to ask why his Universal Credit had been cut off. The toddler died in hospital two days later.Carr, who claimed Maya had fallen out of bed, was convicted of child cruelty and allowing her daughter's death.Ms Chappell, a police officer, believes her great-niece's mother cannot be rehabilitated. The family has campaigned for several years on 'Maya's Law', which they say would close the gaps in safeguarding that facilitated the abuse.She added: 'Dana Carr has shown a lack of responsibility for what she has done. They are going to put her back on the streets, and in our eyes we think she will re-offend. Who will be held responsible for that?'We have a justice system in place that is there supposedly for victims and to help get justice, but there is no justice with this.'Only next month will Dana have served the same age as how old Maya was when she was murdered, and now she will be out for Christmas or just after.'That isn't justice and it puts victims back massively, it's ridiculous.' Michael Daymond is serving a life sentence after shaking Maya Chappell to death. He is not eligible for early releaseMs Chappell, from Consett, still has a number of concerns about how it will affect victims, and believes the government have continually been 'moving the goalposts'.She said: 'We just don't have trust in what they are doing right now - we have been let down left, right and centre.'It feels like we aren't allowed to grieve in our own right, because we all have to campaign and fight against the government. That's wrong.'The early release scheme has been met with brutal criticism from the Conservatives, who have accused Labour of a dereliction of responsibility to victims.Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Andy Burnham wants a round of applause for agreeing not to release rapists and child sex offenders. He's not getting one.'This is only a partial climbdown. Killers, violent offenders, men who have terrorised their partners and more will all still walk out of prison in October thanks to Labour's early release scheme.'Yet again victims are learning their fate from press releases. The victims of these horrific crimes have suffered weeks of uncertainty and fear. They deserve so much better.'The family of PC Andrew Harper, who was dragged behind a car for more than a mile by three teenage thugs trying to steal a quad bike, are amongst the scheme's harshest critics.Two of the officer's killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are in line to be released in January 2027. They were both 17 at the time of PC Harper's death and were jailed for 13 years for the police officer's manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. Lissie Harper, seen with the late PC Andrew Harper, has hit out at the early release decision PC Harper's killers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole (pictured left and right) could be among those released 'within months'Their eligibility to be released after serving just half their sentence has sparked anger among PC Harper's loved ones and concern from Jason Hogg, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who pointed out that under Harper's Law - enacted in the officer's memory - the pair would now be jailed for life and ineligible for the scheme.'I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper's killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry,' he said.'It is simple: if Andrew's killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release.'This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, who put themselves in harm's way to protect and serve their communities.'PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, said it was a 'disgusting betrayal' that his killers could be eligible for early release, adding that she was 'beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew's killers are soon to be free to roam the streets'.His mother Debbie Adlam said the Justice Secretary called to apologise but told her that 'if nothing was done, then the prison system would fall completely'.But she said today: 'We're paying the price for it. It feels like we're letting Andrew down again. We've been through the justice system. We thought we'd done as best as we could.'Now we're standing up to fight again... so I just feel really let down, for Andrew's sake as well as ours.'The driver of the car that dragged PC Harper, Henry Long, was jailed for 16 years for murder and is not eligible for early release.
