EMERGENCY measures to ease the prison population crisis should be scrapped after a Dewsbury woman was murdered by a man let out of jail before the end of his sentence, the Conservatives said.

Andrew Mournian, who was freed in August under the Government’s early release scheme, brutally beat his partner Amanda Murphy around the head with his fists.

The attack at the couple’s home in Westborough, Dewsbury, took place just five days after his early release from a jail sentence for a previous attack on Miss Murphy. The 48-year-old former teacher died four days later.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw was challenged in the Commons, following Mournian’s guilty plea to the murder at Leeds Crown Court.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert asked Mr Straw: “What have you got to say to Mrs Murphy’s relatives about the Government’s decision to release such offenders early?”

Mr Straw replied: “As with any murder, my heart goes out to the relatives and friends of the victim.

“But I hope, as you wish to make something of this, you will take note of what the judge said in her sentencing remarks.

“She said she did not believe that the defendant’s early release had led to Miss Murphy’s death.”

Later, Mr Herbert said: “Andrew Mournian killed Amanda Murphy when he should have been in prison. We argued that this scheme put members of the public at risk and should be scrapped immediately – this has now been tragically demonstrated.”

Mournian, 36, last week received a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 14 years.

Det Supt Tim Forber, from West Yorkshire Police, said: “Amanda Murphy was a vulnerable individual who was subjected to repeated abuse by Andrew Mournian.

“He had a history of domestic violence against previous partners and he took advantage of Amanda Murphy's vulnerability.”

The early release scheme was introduced in June when prisoner numbers in England and Wales reached 81,000.

The government said at the time that anyone convicted of serious violence or sexual offences would be excluded.

Mr Straw said overall the scheme had worked well, with only 1% of 11,000 prisoners released so far having committed a further offence.

The Ministry of Justice said: “Prisons have been instructed that they should now ensure appropriate action is taken in response to any information they receive that a prisoner poses a risk of domestic violence or to a specific victim on release.”