NEW CROSS: Killer Sonnex 'should have been locked up' before student murders (From News Shopper)

NEW CROSS: Justice Secretary Jack Straw admits killer 'should have been locked up' before murders

5:10pm Monday 8th June 2009 in News

A MURDERER “could and should” have been in custody at the time he killed two French students, the House of Commons was told today (June 8).

But Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Dano Sonnex, convicted of the murders last week, was only free through “poor judgements and poor management” by probation officers and the police.

He denied that the problems were due to lack of resources, claiming the London Probation Service underspent its budget last year.

But Mr Straw admitted there had been “serious failings” by probation and prison staff following Sonnex’s release after an eight-year prison sentence.

Mr Straw said that, despite 40 breaches of prison discipline, no adequate risk assesment on Sonnex was carried out.

Only two days after his release, three years early, 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 which time the students had been killed.

Mr Straw said: “Sonnex was free to kill these young men when he could and should have been locked up.”

He added: “I take responsibility for their failings.”

Sonnex, aged 23, of Etta Street, Deptford and Nigel Farmer, aged 34, of no fixed address murdered Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, last June.

The pair were stabbed 244 times following a burglary of the property.

Mr Straw has apologised personally to the parents of the murdered students, who plan to sue the British authorities.

His appearance follows an urgent question by shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve who has attacked "chronic failings" in the probation service.

Sonnex was jailed for a minimum of 40 years whilst Farmer must spend at least 35 years in jail for the crimes.

London's chief probation officer David Scott has resigned over the case.