Murderer’s Transfer to Open Prison Blocked by Justice Secretary

A convicted murderer who was recommended for transfer to an open prison will remain in closed conditions after Justice Secretary David Lammy intervened to block the move.
Jake Fahri, 36, was handed a life sentence in 2009 with a minimum term of 14 years for the murder of 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen in a south London bakery the previous year. During the fatal attack, Fahri threw a glass or oven dish at the teenager, which shattered and severed blood vessels in his neck.
Released on licence in June 2023, Fahri subsequently launched a music career as “Ten”, a masked drill artist whose tracks appeared on Spotify and YouTube. He was reportedly featured on BBC 1Xtra. One track was said to contain lyrics that appeared to reference Jimmy’s death.
The Ministry of Justice recalled Fahri to prison in January 2025 following a story by The Sun that identified Ten as Fahri and claimed his music included details of the murder. A Probation Service spokesperson said at the time 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 being the rapper and insisted the music was not about his own life. Following his recall to custody, he later accepted he was Ten and that he appeared in the videos.
The Parole Board ruled against releasing Fahri but concluded he could be moved to an open prison, where security is minimal and eligible prisoners can spend most of the day out on licence. The panel said 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”, and considered this reflection could happen in open conditions.
Mr Lammy, acting as both Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, has now rejected that recommendation. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: “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.”
Jimmy’s mother, Margaret Mizen, 73, told The Sun she was “shocked” by the panel’s recommendation and believed Fahri had “not changed his attitude”. She said she was glad Mr Lammy had blocked the transfer, adding: “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.”
Mrs Mizen also told The Sun: “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.”
Jimmy Mizen had just turned 16 the day before his death in May 2008. Fahri, then 19, hurled a hot glass or oven dish from the counter that shattered on Jimmy’s chin. A shard pierced his neck, severing the carotid artery and jugular veins, leading to fatal blood loss.
Following their son’s death, Jimmy’s family established the Mizen Foundation, which aims to promote “forgiveness, peace and hope, and empowerment among young people and communities”. Upper Tribunal Judge Hirst noted the panel’s decision in the written summary. Both Barry and Margaret Mizen were appointed MBEs in 2013 in recognition of their charitable and community work following the murder.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​