A murderer accused of rapping about the death of the London schoolboy he killed will not be transferred to an open prison, after the Deputy Prime Minister intervened.
Jake Fahri murdered 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen in a south London bakery in 2008, throwing a glass dish at him which shattered and severed blood vessels in his neck.
Given a life sentence in 2009 with a minimum term of 14 years, Fahri was released on licence in June 2023, and embarked upon a new musical venture.
Dubbing himself Ten, the masked drill artist was reportedly showcased on BBC 1Xtra, and had a track on Spotify and YouTube that seemed to reference Jimmy’s death.
But after The Sun newspaper revealed his identity, the Ministry of Justice recalled him to prison in January 2025.
Putting him back behind bars, a Probation Service spokesperson said that Jimmy’s parents “deserve better than to see their son’s murderer shamelessly boasting about his violent crime”.
According to a Parole Board decision summary, Fahri initially denied he was the rapper and disputed that the music was about his own life, but later admitted he was Ten after his recall to prison.
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The board decided Fahri, now 36, should not be released from custody, but could be moved to an open prison, where there is minimal security and eligible prisoners can spend most of their day out of the facility on licence.
“The panel determined that Mr Fahri needed to reflect on his attitude, thinking and behaviour, so that he could better understand himself, including why he failed to be open and honest with the professionals managing his case,” the written decision said.
“It considered that this could be achieved in an open prison and recommended that Mr Fahri should be progressed in this way.”
Now Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy has rejected the move.
Jimmy’s mother Margaret, 73, told The Sun she was “shocked” by the panel’s recommendation, that Fahri had “not changed his attitude”, and that she was glad that Mr Lammy had blocked his transfer.
“I would much prefer this decision didn’t have to be made because he would have turned his life around. I’m really sad that he hasn’t,” she said.
“It goes to show that the things which have been said about him over the years are probably true.
“He got into the witness box at his trial and lied through his teeth. Clearly, he hasn’t changed, and I’m glad the Justice Secretary has seen through it.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “Jimmy Mizen’s murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with his friends and family.
“Public protection is our top priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister has blocked Jake Fahri’s transfer to open conditions.”
The Mizen Foundation was set up by Jimmy’s family after his death, to promote “forgiveness, peace and hope, and empowerment among young people and communities”.
Jimmy’s parents, Barry and Margaret, were both appointed MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2013 for their charitable endeavours.
