Gemma Chappell, the great-aunt of Maya Chappell, who was shaken to death aged two by her mother’s boyfriend in 2022, said the early release scheme was further traumatising bereaved families. She said she welcomed Andy Burnham’s intervention to exempt rapists, serious child sexual abuse offenders and those convicted of grooming from the early release plans but said it didn’t go far enough. “To kill somebody and to have your [prison] sentence reduced is just not right. The government has also been criticised for its decision not to exempt domestic abuse perpetrators from the early release scheme. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, could apply for early release after serving half of their sentences.