Hudds killer's suicide after second murder

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Chief Supt Barker said the sergeant involved in Miss Wilson’s case is to face a misconduct panel, while the police constable, who Staffordshire police admitted was not fully trained to fill in the assessment form, was given a written warning.

Coroner Andrew Haigh recorded verdicts of unlawful killing for Miss Wilson and suicide for Clarke.

He said: “I can’t say for certain if Clarke had been arrested that it would have made a difference.

“He was on life-licence but even if he was detained, he may still have been bailed.

“But if he had been arrested, the risk of this happening would have been significantly reduced.

“The officer entered a too narrow search in the Police National Computer and failed to spot Clarke’s prior offences.

“There were a number of missed opportunities to discover Clarke’s background and if they had been taken, Donna Wilson’s report would have been taken more seriously.”

An Independent Police Complaints Commission report into the incident, made in June, found that the force was guilty of “systematic failure”.

After the inquest, Chief Supt Barker said the force had “apologised unreservedly” to Miss Wilson’s family.