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Shiney Row burning inquest: Failings 'possibly contributed' to death | Shiney Row burning inquest: Failings 'possibly contributed' to death |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Failings by police and the probation service "possibly contributed" to the death of a woman murdered by two convicted killers, a coroner has ruled. | Failings by police and the probation service "possibly contributed" to the death of a woman murdered by two convicted killers, a coroner has ruled. |
The body of Quyen Ngoc Nguyen, 28, was found in a burning car at Shiney Row, near Sunderland, in August 2017. | The body of Quyen Ngoc Nguyen, 28, was found in a burning car at Shiney Row, near Sunderland, in August 2017. |
Her killers Stephen Unwin and William McFall, who were out of prison on licence, were jailed in April 2018. | Her killers Stephen Unwin and William McFall, who were out of prison on licence, were jailed in April 2018. |
Coroner Derek Winter said breaches of Unwin's licence were not shared between Northumbria Police and probation. | |
He ruled Ms Nguyen had been unlawfully killed. | He ruled Ms Nguyen had been unlawfully killed. |
The force said it had made improvements to the way it shared information with the probation service. | |
Unwin, of Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, and McFall, from Northern Ireland but who lived in Blackpool, had met in prison while serving life terms for separate murders. | Unwin, of Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, and McFall, from Northern Ireland but who lived in Blackpool, had met in prison while serving life terms for separate murders. |
The coroner looked at whether there were systemic and individual failures by those charged with the supervision of the pair after they were released. | The coroner looked at whether there were systemic and individual failures by those charged with the supervision of the pair after they were released. |
Mr Winter said police recorded 26 pieces of intelligence about Unwin between 2012 and 2017 but these were not shared with probation officers. | |
Unwin was arrested after a disturbance in 2013 in which he threatened to burn a house down, and he allegedly assaulted a teenager in 2015. | Unwin was arrested after a disturbance in 2013 in which he threatened to burn a house down, and he allegedly assaulted a teenager in 2015. |
A few weeks before Ms Nguyen was murdered, a woman told police Unwin had sent her a message in which he threatened to "smash her jaw in" and take turns with an accomplice to rape her. | A few weeks before Ms Nguyen was murdered, a woman told police Unwin had sent her a message in which he threatened to "smash her jaw in" and take turns with an accomplice to rape her. |
One month later Unwin raped 28-year-old Ms Nguyen before he and McFall dumped her body in the burning vehicle. | One month later Unwin raped 28-year-old Ms Nguyen before he and McFall dumped her body in the burning vehicle. |
Mr Winter said: "On the evidence, there were multiple occasions when information about Unwin could and should have been shared between the police and probation." | Mr Winter said: "On the evidence, there were multiple occasions when information about Unwin could and should have been shared between the police and probation." |
He added that if police had passed on information there would have been enforcement action against Unwin, although it would not have been enough to recall him to prison - but "might have moderated his behaviour". | He added that if police had passed on information there would have been enforcement action against Unwin, although it would not have been enough to recall him to prison - but "might have moderated his behaviour". |
The inquest, at Sunderland Coroner's Court, was told assessments of Unwin "fell below good practice", with records updated retrospectively after Ms Nguyen was killed. | The inquest, at Sunderland Coroner's Court, was told assessments of Unwin "fell below good practice", with records updated retrospectively after Ms Nguyen was killed. |
'Unbearable suffering' | 'Unbearable suffering' |
Mr Winter said: "The perpetrators of her murder were subject to life licence conditions, the known breaches of which were not acted upon in a sufficient, timely and co-ordinated manner, including a failure of information sharing, all of which were not causative but possibly contributed to her death." | Mr Winter said: "The perpetrators of her murder were subject to life licence conditions, the known breaches of which were not acted upon in a sufficient, timely and co-ordinated manner, including a failure of information sharing, all of which were not causative but possibly contributed to her death." |
The coroner will write to the justice secretary, Northumbria Police's chief constable and the probation service about the need for further training to help prevent future deaths. | The coroner will write to the justice secretary, Northumbria Police's chief constable and the probation service about the need for further training to help prevent future deaths. |
After the hearing, Ms Ngoc Nguyen's sister Quynh said police and probation "should have carried out procedures more strictly and earlier". | After the hearing, Ms Ngoc Nguyen's sister Quynh said police and probation "should have carried out procedures more strictly and earlier". |
She added: "Nothing can bring my sister back now, the suffering from her death is unbearable and has hugely affected our family members, physically and mentally. | She added: "Nothing can bring my sister back now, the suffering from her death is unbearable and has hugely affected our family members, physically and mentally. |
"At least a better system can help other families to prevent other such tragedies." | "At least a better system can help other families to prevent other such tragedies." |
'Improvements already made' | |
Northumbria Police's Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said: "We acknowledge the findings of the inquest and following this case we carried out a review of how we share information with the probation service. | |
"As a result, improvements have already been made, which includes introducing an enhanced electronic flagging system - with additional measures - to ensure all relevant information is identified and appropriately shared." | |
She added: "We have apologised to the family for failing to share information with the probation service and I do so again publicly." |