Inquiry after fatal stabbing

Adelaide Howard died at her home

An inquiry is under way into the care of a man convicted of stabbing to death an elderly woman.

Adelaide Howard, 79, died after being stabbed 42 times at her home in Winterbourne, south Gloucestershire, in March 2002.

In February, Matthew Newland, 25, from Winterbourne, was convicted of her manslaughter, with diminished responsibility.

He killed Ms Howard within an hour of threatening the family of his social worker, and was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

The inquiry - ordered by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority - is being carried out by a panel of health professionals, headed by barrister Gillian Downham.

Mental health unit

Ms Downham said: "This has been a tragic event and the purpose of the inquiry is to learn lessons for the future.

"We shall be examining the care and treatment Matthew Newland received before the homicide and publishing a report which will make recommendations for improvement in mental health services."

They are gathering information from witnesses, including family and friends of Newland and health workers involved in his care.

An hour before the stabbing, Newland had been visited by a social worker, during which he became emotional and threatened his family.

He had also previously spent six weeks in a mental health unit before being released.