Gang leader to be freed 13 years after he was jailed for life for murder of ... trends now
The leader of a gang who lured a young boy to his death with a 'honeytrap' is to be freed from prison after being granted parole.
Danny McLean, now 32, will walk free in weeks after the Parole Board recommended he be released on licence earlier today.
McLean conspired with then 15-year-old Samantha Joseph to entice Shakilus Townsend, 16, into a fatal trap in Thornton Heath, south London, in 2008.
16-year-old Shakilus was besotted with Joseph, who was also involved with jealous love rival McLean.
Once they arrived in a quiet cul-de-sac, Shakilus was cornered by McLean, then aged 18 and his gang. The victim was stabbed six times and beaten with a baseball bat as he cried out for his mother.
16-year-old Shakilus Townsend (pictured) was lured into a quiet cul-de-sac in Thornton Heath, south London, in 2008 and beaten and stabbed to death by Danny McLean and his gang
Danny McLean (pictured) now aged 32, was involved with the infamous Shine My Nine Gang and was jailed for life in 2009 for murdering Shakilus. A parole board has now approved his release on licence
The killing shocked the nation and shone a light on out-of-control gangs such as McLean's then-infamous Shine My Nine Gang.
Ringleader McLean was sentenced to life at the Old Bailey in 2009 with a minimum term of 15-years.
Joseph spent 10 years in prison for her role in the killing and was deported to her native Trinidad in 2019.
On September 10, McLean his first appearance before the Parole Board.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said:'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Danny McLean following an oral hearing.
'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
Samantha Joseph, aged 15 at the time, was involved with both McLean, then 18, and Shakilus, 16. She spent ten years in prison for luring Shakilus to his death, before being deported to her native Trinidad in 2019
'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
'It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
In a summary of their decision, the Parole Board stated 'his (McLean's) behaviour in prison had been positive for most of his sentence.'
It added: 'He had undertaken the required accredited programmes to address offending behaviour and was assessed as having made sufficient progress to be transferred to an open prison in February 2020.
CCTV showed Samantha Joseph and Daniel McLean casually walking away from the murder scene, while Shakilus lay bleeding to death and calling for his mother
'It (the panel) was told that he had continually engaged and complied with the open prison regime.
'Having completed the requirement resettlement activities, Mr McLean had found employment and had spent a considerable amount of time at work, in the community on temporary licence without concern.
'He had also completed short periods of overnight release to an approved address.
'There had been no evidence of Mr McLean associating with negative peers either in prison or in the community.'
The panel recommended McLean's release on licence subject to strict conditions, including living at an agreed address, electronic monitoring and restrictions on his daily contacts.
The decision of the Parole Board is provisional for 21-days. During that time, the
