Dead woman ignored killer warning

Ms Wallace worked until recently at a dental surgery in Bearsted

A woman found dead in a house where her partner was also found hanged had been warned he was a double murderer.

The body of Jeanette Wallace, 58, was found in Mynn Crescent, Bearstead, Kent, on Monday near that of Derek Ord.

Ord, 57, had been jailed in 1987 for killing his estranged wife Joan, 39, and her mother, Dorothy Abnett, 75.

Sussex Probation Area said Ms Wallace had ignored warnings about Ord's past. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The killer was released into the care of the Probation Service in 2003.

Ms Wallace said she had never felt threatened by Ord Sussex Probation Area

Ms Wallace, who died from multiple injuries, lived in Mynn Crescent while Ord was living at Windlesham Gardens, Hove.

"We can confirm that Derek Ord was being supervised as someone who had been sentenced to life imprisonment and released into our supervision," Sussex Probation Area said on Friday.

Tony Bridger said Ord's probation officer had told Ms Wallace about his convictions and that he had a history of domestic violence.

She had a meeting at probation offices in Brighton on 23 April 2004 after the officer became aware she and Ord had started a relationship.

Domestic violence

"Ms Wallace was advised there was a risk of domestic violence in her relationship with Ord," said Mr Bridger.

"Ms Wallace said she had never felt threatened by Ord.

"Following the meeting, Ms Wallace said she did not want any further contact with Sussex Probation."

Post-mortem examinations established that Ms Wallace died from multiple injuries and Ord from hanging.

Ord stabbed Mrs Ord and Mrs Abnett to death at his mother-in-law's home in Sandhurst, near Benenden, Kent on Christmas Eve, 1986, and was convicted of the murders the following year.

It is never possible to eliminate the risk of an offender committing a further offence Sussex Probation Area

Mr Bridger said Sussex Probation Area was looking closely at how Ord was managed while under its supervision and a full report would be sent to the National Probation Directorate.

"We would like to express our sympathy to the victim's family and all those affected by this incident," he said.

"We are constantly seeking to reduce the possibility of further harm to victims.

"However, it is never possible to eliminate the risk of an offender committing a further offence."

Inquests into the deaths of Ord and Ms Wallace were opened and adjourned on Thursday.