Sutton Coldfield Mother Stabbed 24 Times Continues Fight for Justice
A mother who survived a horrific stabbing attack in Sutton Coldfield while heavily pregnant is now campaigning to prevent domestic abuse offenders from being transferred to open prisons too early. Natalie Queiroz was attacked ten years ago by her then-partner, Babur Karamat Raja, known as 'Bobby', in a brutal assault that left her with 24 stab wounds.
The Day That Changed Everything
On March 4, 2016, Natalie Queiroz was eight months pregnant and walking down Trinity Hill in Sutton Coldfield when Raja launched a frenzied attack, stabbing her 24 times in what authorities determined was an attempt to kill both her and their unborn daughter. Brave passers-by intervened, wrestling the knife from Raja before paramedics arrived and the Midlands Air Ambulance airlifted her to hospital within an hour of the attack.
That same night, Natalie gave birth to her third daughter via emergency Caesarean section while she remained in a coma, unaware of the birth. Raja was arrested and later sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted murder and attempted child destruction, with parole eligibility after 12 years.
Living with Terror and Uncertainty
Now 50 years old, Natalie has spoken about the ongoing terror she feels knowing that Raja will eventually be released from prison. "It still fills me with absolute terror," she said. "The thought of him being outside makes me feel physically ill. How do I keep myself safe? I work in Birmingham city centre. How would I feel coming in when he is free from prison?"
Natalie last saw Raja in prison in June 2017, where she says he showed no genuine remorse for his actions. She described his apology as similar to that of a child who says sorry without meaning it. Since that meeting, she has had no contact with him but knows his eventual release is inevitable.
Campaign Against Early Prison Transfers
Natalie's current focus is campaigning to prevent domestic abuse offenders from being transferred to open prisons too soon. She discovered through her work giving talks in prisons that Raja had become eligible for transfer to a Category D open prison earlier than expected due to government rule changes in March 2024.
"After the attack happened, I didn't feel there would ever be a world when he would be walking outside of the prison walls," Natalie explained. "How did he not get a life sentence? But last year I found out he could apply to be moved to an open prison. There you can leave for a day or get a job. The period came forward by four years because of the rule change."
Natalie learned from her victim liaison officer that Raja's eligibility for transfer to an open prison had moved from March 2029 to March 2025. Despite initially being approved for transfer in September last year, the decision was later revoked following media attention and Natalie's campaigning efforts.
Political Engagement and Policy Change
Natalie has engaged with multiple political figures in her campaign, including:
- Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls
- Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons
- Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield
- David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister
- Alex Davies-Jones, Victims' Minister
She has specifically advocated for domestic abuse offenders to be restricted to a maximum of 12 months in an open prison before their parole eligibility, rather than the current system that allows earlier transfers. "Domestic abuse offenders are often manipulative people," Natalie noted. "They don't tend to cause a lot of issues in the prison environment. They assess very well."
Current Status and Ongoing Concerns
Raja was reassessed in November and found ineligible for transfer to an open prison, with his next assessment scheduled for May. Natalie questions what could change in the risk assessment during this period and continues to experience anxiety about the process.
As the Victims' Advocate with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Natalie now focuses her efforts on protecting other domestic abuse survivors. Her campaign seeks to exclude domestic abuse offenders from early transfer to open prisons, arguing that public safety should not be compromised by prison capacity issues.
"You shouldn't be putting victims at risk because of all of this," she stated, referring to the current prison crisis driving early transfer policies. With Raja eligible for parole in just two years, Natalie's fight for justice and safety continues as she works to protect both her family and other potential victims of domestic violence.
