Ten years ago, Natalie Queiroz was walking through Sutton Coldfield, heavily pregnant with her partner Babur Karamat Raja’s child, when he launched a brutal attack. Raja stabbed her 24 times in a frenzied assault, nearly killing both Natalie and her unborn daughter.
Rescued by passers-by and airlifted to hospital, Natalie survived and gave birth by Caesarean section while in a coma. Raja was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted murder and attempted child destruction but is eligible for parole after 12 years.
Now, on the tenth anniversary of the attack, Natalie shares her ongoing fear of Raja’s eventual release and her determination to keep him confined to a secure, closed prison. She fears that early transfer to an open prison would place her and their three daughters at risk.
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Natalie, who works with prisons to give talks on knife crime, discovered that government changes in 2024 moved up eligibility for transfer to open prisons by four years—news she heard from a fellow prisoner rather than official channels. This change means Raja could have been moved as early as March 2025 instead of 2029.
After raising her concerns with victim support officers, MPs, and ministers, and amidst public outcry, Raja’s transfer to an open prison was halted. However, Natalie remains anxious about future assessments and potential risks.
Now serving as a Victims’ Advocate, Natalie campaigns to exclude domestic abuse offenders from early transfers to open prisons, advocating for restrictions that would only allow such moves within 12 months of parole eligibility. She highlights that domestic abusers are often manipulative and may adapt well to prison environments, misleading risk assessments.
Natalie’s story is a stark reminder of the impact of domestic violence and the challenges faced by survivors in seeking justice and safety. She continues to fight for reforms that protect victims from the risks posed by early release policies.