JUSTICE Secretary Jack Straw has apologised to the families of two French students murdered by a pair of sadistic thugs, as one of the killers should have been in custody.

Speaking after Dano Sonnex and Nigel Farmer were convicted of the murders, Mr Straw said the "very serious failures" which led to Sonnex being free to murder the pair were "unacceptable".

He said: "These were the most appalling, sadistic, and gratuitous murders. The direct responsibility for these killings must lie – as the jury found – with the criminals.

"But it is also the case that Sonnex could and should have been in custody at the time he committed these murders."

He added: "It was the consequence of very serious failures across the criminal justice system that he had not been arrested and incarcerated some weeks before.

“It is because of these failings that I have met the families of the two victims on two occasions and apologised to them for the failings which led to Dano Sonnex being free at the time of the murders.

"In relation to the failings of the probation service, I take full responsibility as Secretary of State. They were unacceptable and had tragic consequences."

Pictures from French student murders case

Killer Dano Sonnex was free to murder the pair because of a catalogue of blunders by police, probation officers and doctors.

During a press conference at the end of the five-week Old Bailey trial, representatives from the Met, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the London Probation Service spoke of the mistakes their organisations had made.

They revealed that Sonnex had no previous convictions when he was sent to a young offenders' institute at the age of 17 in 2002.

He was given an eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to robbery and wounding with intent.

Early in his sentence Sonnex attacked fellow inmates and on one occasion set fire to his cell.

It was revealed during the press conference that in May 2004 Sonnex told a prison doctor he "could kill".

But this admission was not passed on to prison officers.

Later in his sentence Sonnex’s behaviour improved, leading to the London Probation Service categorising him as ‘medium risk’ when he was released on licence in February 2008.

This meant he was less heavily supervised than he could have been if put in the high risk category.

Only two days after his release Sonnex allegedly tied up his pregnant foster sister and her boyfriend, holding a knife to the woman’s throat.

Police interviewed Sonnex but released him after the witnesses withdrew their allegations.

Sonnex was free to continue life outside jail until he was charged with handling stolen goods in April last year.

The case was adjourned and he was bailed on May 16.

On June 12 the London Probation Service decided Sonnex was a risk to the public and revoked his licence.

A warrant for his arrest was issued to the Met the next day but it took police officers 16 days to visit his last known address.

By complete coincidence June 29, the day police knocked on the door of his parents' house in Etta Street, Deptford, was the day Sonnex tortured and murdered students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez in Sterling Gardens, New Cross.

It took a further eight days for the Met to name Sonnex as a suspect before he was eventually arrested on July 10.

Reaction from the Met

News Shopper: The French students' families have received an apology from the Justice Secretary

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is due to publish a report into the actions of the Met in the weeks leading up to the murders.

Commander Simon Foy, head of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, was reluctant to pre-empt the report but answered some questions.

When asked why it took 16 days for officers to begin searching for Sonnex after a warrant for his arrest was issued on June 13, he said: "The initial response to finding him was clouded by some intelligence that he may have had some access to firearms.

"There was a series of discussions as to whose responsibility it was if he was going to be arrested.

"With hindsight that conversation about whether or not we needed a firearms team took too long."

He added: "The IPCC are clear on our responsibility to make sure that we take into account and act on their recommendations. Organisational learning is a very important part of our business.

"There will be a clear expectation on us to make sure that we don't repeat the same errors again."

Reaction from The National Offender Management Service (NOMS)

Phil Wheatley is director general of NOMS - a department of the Ministry of Justice which combines parts of the Probation Service and Prison Service.

He confirmed that former chief officer of the London Probation Service, David Scott, handed in his resignation in May when it became clear that serious errors had been made.

Later in the press conference Mr Wheatley was asked why Sonnex did not have his parole licence revoked sooner.

He said: "Sonnex was categorised as medium risk when he was released.

"His good behaviour in the last part of his prison sentence was given more weight than it should have been."

He added: "It's a fact that there was an inexperienced officer in the probation service under too much pressure who was dealing with this case.

"Without proper back-up that's why the failure took place.

"The resources were not being managed correctly and there was a tremendous sickness problem in the office. Probation officers were taking 27 days a year.

"This has now been reduced to 16."

News Shopper: The French students' families have received an apology from the Justice Secretary

Timeline:

March 14, 2003: Sonnex sentenced to eight years behind bars for wounding with intent, four robberies, assault with intent to resist arrest, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent.

May, 2004: Sonnex tells a doctor in prison that his "reaction to events means he could kill" but the doctor does not pass the information onto prison officers or the probation service.

October 10, 2006: First parole application refused.

August 1, 2007: Second parole application refused February 8, 2008: Released from custody on the latest day he could lawfully be held in custody. Probation service licence set to last until October 11 the same year. He is categorised as medium risk (not high) despite behaving violently in jail (including setting fire to his prison cell).

February 10, 2008: Sonnex is accused of tying up his foster sister and her partner before threatening to kidnap them. Police did not pursue as the witnesses withdrew the allegations.

February 18, 2008: Sonnex is given a formal warning with regards to the allegations.

April 24, 2008: Sonnex appears at Greenwich Magistrates' Court charged with handling stolen goods and is remanded in custody until May 1.

May 1, 2008 - He appears at Greenwich Magistrates' Court again and is remanded in custody until May 16 for trial.

May 16, 2008: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) requests trial be adjourned. Sonnex is granted bail.

June 13, 2008: The public protection unit revokes Sonnex's licence and a warrant for his arrest is sent to the Met.

June 29, 2008: Lewisham police attend his last known address (his parents’ house) in Etta Street, Deptford, but he jumps over the fence to hide from officers.

June 29, 2008: Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez are murdered in New Cross.

July 8, 2008: Sonnex is named as a suspect for the murders.

July 10, 2008: Sonnex arrested at his grandparents' house in Peckham. He was hiding in the loft.

July 14, 2008: Sonnex and Nigel Farmer first appear in court charged with students’ murders.