Woman's death was preventable

The death of a woman who was killed by her husband after he escaped from a probation hostel could have been prevented by health and social services, according to an independent inquiry published yesterday.

The man, from Middlesbrough, was convicted of manslaughter after killing his estranged wife in April last year. She had moved to Manchester to escape him. The report makes 18 recommendations, and says that Bromley Health Authority, the South East London Probation Service and Bromley Social Services did not communicate or work together to prevent the tragedy.