Errors that led to mother’s murder

Sep 5 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

SAFTEY experts last night admitted a string of errors leading up to the sadistic murder of a Northumberland mother.

David Summers stalked Diane Edwards before carrying out the brutal killing and sexually assaulting her dead body.

But despite accepting his case was not managed as well as it should have been, a public protection panel concluded nobody was to blame.

The 23-year-old is serving a life sentence after he admitted murdering the mother-of-three in her home in Brierley Road, Blyth, in October 2006.

But her devastated family are still angry that Summers, who flouted court orders and broke five electronic tags, was free when he killed Mrs Edwards. Her son Lee and twin daughters Sally and Sarah live in the south of England with their father.

And last night, North East charity the National Victims’ Association said “far too many murders” had been committed by people who should have been in jail.

Summers was 21 at the time and lived near Ms Edwards, 53, in Brookside Avenue, Blyth. He carried out the brutal attack when she tried to end their relationship.

Despite frantic attempts to fight him off, heroin addict Summers stamped on her head and bound her hands with tape before putting a plastic bag over her head.

After his sentence in July last year, it was revealed he flouted curfew and tagging orders to prevent him contacting Ms Edwards.

The addict was even given a suspended sentence by magistrates three weeks before she was killed.

Last night, an inquiry by the Northumbria Multi Agency Public Protection Authority (MAPPA) concluded the efforts of all the agencies involved could not have prevented the murder.

But the report also found the response could have been more “robust.”

Experts found:

:: Summers should have been referred for close scrutiny earlier

:: An “error of judgment” in not setting a meeting because he was due in court

:: “All possible outcomes” were not covered

:: Summers’ referral to a probation hostel was delayed due to lack of beds and staff absence

:: Security group G4S was not informed Summers was managed by MAPPA.

“Refresher guidance” will now be given to staff and extra contingency plans will be put in place when people appear in court to cover all possible sentences.

The report also said actions agreed at meetings should “always” be carried out within the agreed timescale.

Neil Atkinson, of the National Victims’ Association, said: “I think there’s an abundance of evidence to show that a high percentage of perpetrators offend and re-offend while on bail.

“For years we have campaigned for the kind of sentence most members of the public demand. Far too many murders have been committed by people who have previously broken the terms of their bail and or curfew.

“After every murder the public are promised that steps are taken to prevent such things happening again, and nothing ever does.”

David Gardiner, chairman of the Northumbria MAPPA strategic management board, said: “Realistically, we can never completely eliminate risk and sometimes, sadly, this has tragic consequences.

“But there are many more individuals successfully managed through MAPPA who do not re-offend.”

DCI Max Black, Northumbria Police public protection unit, said Summers was “determined to breach all the conditions to protect Mrs Edwards completely outside the law.”

He said: “It is an enduring tragedy that despite the many measures, she was killed by someone who was determined to breach all restrictions placed on him.

“This case has demonstrated that while a great deal can be done to minimise risk, it can never be eliminated entirely. We fully accept the review findings and have taken steps to implement all of the recommendations relating to our systems and procedures.”

Northumbria probation service said it would accept all recommendations of the report. A judiciary spokesman said every defendant had the right to be considered for bail and that all sentencing was covered by strict laws.