Mother is granted murder inquest

The body of Naomi Bryant was found at her Winchester home

The mother of a woman murdered by a sex attacker on licence from a life sentence has been granted an inquest into her daughter's death.

Anthony Rice, 48, strangled and stabbed to death mother-of-one Naomi Bryant, 40, at her home in Winchester, Hampshire, in August last year.

Coroner Grahame Short decided an inquest would not be held when Rice admitted to the murder.

But Verna Bryant used the Human Rights Act to argue her case for an inquest.

'Substantial deficiencies'

Mrs Bryant, backed by the civil rights group Liberty, had threatened a high court challenge.

She claimed, under article two of the Human Rights Act, the state was obliged to hold a full inquest if a public authority was implicated in someone's death.

At the time of the murder, Rice had been staying at a charity hostel on licence.

He had been given a 10-year minimum term at the Old Bailey in 1989 for attempted rape.

Two parole requests were turned down before he was released in November 2004 - having served more than 15 years - after his solicitor claimed his human rights were being contravened by his continued imprisonment.

'Officials side-tracked'

A Probation Service report into his release found there had been "substantial deficiencies" in his supervision and there were "clear lessons to be learned".

The report said prison and other officials were side-tracked by considering Rice's human rights above their duties to the public.

The coroner's decision to hold an inquest means the Act that was blamed in part for Rice's release will now ensure the circumstances behind that release face a public inquiry.

Coroner's officer Roger Matcham said an inquest date will be set "in due course".