Barrister warns Starmer ‘I’ve never known a sitting Prime Minister who we could directly link to a death’

The Prime Minister is facing intense pressure after a convicted violent offender released early under Labour’s prison reforms went on to murder a young father within hours of walking free. Barrister Steven Barret delivered a scathing indictment on GB News, directly linking Sir Keir Starmer to the killing and demanding his resignation over what he called a “totally unnecessary” and “foreseeable” tragedy.

The case centers on Liam Mathews, a 26-year-old with a history of brutal violence who was serving time for a vicious street attack where he repeatedly stamped on his victim’s head. Despite this dangerous track record, Mathews was released from HMP Holme House on September 18 under emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding. Shockingly, just hours after tasting freedom, he hunted down 26-year-old Lewis Bell – a new father – in what prosecutors described as a predatory knife attack over a drug dispute.

Barret pulled no punches in his condemnation, arguing this wasn’t just a failing of the system but a direct consequence of political decisions. “We’ve never had a sitting Prime Minister we could directly link to a death like this,” he stated, dismissing government claims about prison capacity as “tosh.” His comments highlight the human cost of policy decisions, with Bell’s family now left to mourn while questions swirl about why his killer was on the streets.

The Ministry of Justice maintains they inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse, warning that without early releases, police would have been forced to stop arresting dangerous offenders altogether. But critics counter that emergency solutions shouldn’t come at the expense of public safety, especially when dealing with violent criminals like Mathews who had already demonstrated his capacity for brutality.

This tragic case cuts to the heart of the criminal justice debate – balancing prison reform against community protection, and whether emergency measures have crossed the line into recklessness. As Bell’s loved ones grapple with their loss, the political fallout continues to grow, with many asking how many more warning signs were needed before this preventable tragedy was allowed to happen.