Charity prosecuted after stabbing

Ashleigh Ewing died in May 2006

A charity is to be taken to court after a worker was stabbed to death by a paranoid schizophrenic.

Ashleigh Ewing, 22, was killed by Ronald Dixon when she visited his house in Heaton, Newcastle, in May 2006.

He admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was detained indefinitely in October 2007.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now said it is prosecuting charity Mental Health Matters for an alleged breach of health and safety law.

Miss Ewing, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, was found dead with 39 wounds in Dixon's kitchen on 22 May 2006.

Dixon, then 35, denied murder but admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Ronald Dixon was detained indefinitely

A HSE statement said: "The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is prosecuting Mental Health Matters for an alleged breach of health and safety law following its investigation into the death of a care worker in Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 May 2006.

"An employee of Mental Health Matters, Ashleigh Ewing, was killed by a service user, Ronald Dixon in his home.

"He is presently detained at Rampton having pleaded guilty to her manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility."

It said Mental Health Matters, which is based in Sunderland, faces a charge in respect of an alleged breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Mental Health Matters said as proceedings were pending it would be inappropriate to comment.