In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Simon Smith, who was jailed in 1996 for the murder of his three infant children, was moved to an open prison to prepare for his eventual release. Smith, originally from Stone, Staffordshire, was convicted of the separate killings of his children between 1989 and 1994. It was reported that Smith murdered three-month-old Lauren, six-month-old Jamie, and ten-month-old Eleisha by suffocation, a series of crimes that shocked the local community and the nation.
The investigation established that Smith carried out the killings over a five-year period while living in Stone. Staffordshire Police reported that the deaths were initially treated as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) until forensic evidence and further investigation linked the fatalities. The prosecution reported that Smith’s actions were calculated and that he had managed to evade suspicion for several years before his eventual arrest and trial at Stafford Crown Court.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Smith was a “calculated and cold-blooded” killer who targeted his own defenceless children. Stafford Crown Court heard that Smith suffocated each infant, with the gap between the murders allowing him to maintain a facade of a grieving father. The investigation established that the truth only emerged after the death of his third child, Eleisha, when medical experts raised concerns about the statistical impossibility of three natural infant deaths in one family.
The Ministry of Justice noted that the move to an open prison is part of the standard rehabilitation process for life-sentence prisoners nearing the end of their minimum term. For his actions in Staffordshire, Smith was handed three life sentences in 1996. The judge and legal representatives noted that while he had served over two decades in high-security conditions, the move to an open estate in 2019 was a significant step toward his reintegration into society, despite the ongoing trauma for the children’s surviving family members.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Simon Smith is as follows:
- Custodial Status: Moved to open prison (2019); Eligible for parole review.
- Sentence: Three life sentences (Sentenced 1996).
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Stafford Crown Court following a Staffordshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Murder (3 counts).
- Victims: Lauren (3 months), Jamie (6 months), Eleisha (10 months).
- Origin: Stone, Staffordshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Smith is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of scrutiny as he transitions through the open prison system. Due to the nature of his conduct in Stone, which involved the serial murder of his own children, his management is a maximum priority for the National Probation Service. Authorities state that his move to an open prison allows for “testing” in the community, including supervised day releases, to assess his risk before any final decision on parole is made.
As a life-sentenced prisoner, Smith will remain on license for the rest of his life if he is ever released. Authorities state that his history of predatory and “vicious” behaviour toward his children in Staffordshire necessitates permanent and strict supervision. Any breach of his license conditions, including unapproved contact with children or a failure to disclose his location, will result in immediate recall to a closed prison for the remainder of his life.
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