Bailed man stabbed ex-girlfriend

A man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death hours after being freed from court, an inquest has heard.

Sean Francis, 37, killed Wendy Billing in front of her three-year-old son in September 2006 before jumping in front of a train and killing himself.

Francis ambushed her car, took the keys then stabbed her 11 times as she left the child's nursery, witnesses said.

He had been freed on bail by a judge after breaching a restraining order, West London Coroners' Court heard.

Francis stopped Miss Billing's car as she left their child's nursery in Gunnersbury, west London, on 14 September 2006, the court heard.

He snatched her keys from the ignition, then climbed on top of her and stabbed her 11 times while their child, watched from the passenger seat.

All of a sudden he was on top of her... Then I realised he had a knife Susan Ginger, witness

Witnesses said cocaine user Francis appeared to be in a "trance-like state" and did not speak during the attack.

Susan Ginger, who had been helping out at the nursery said: "All of a sudden he was on top of her. At first I thought he was thumping her. I got hold of his hoodie and tried to pull him off but couldn't. Then I realised he had a knife."

Miss Ginger managed to snatch the child to safety from the car before Francis drove off.

She added: "I said it's ok Wendy... Then she closed her eyes."

Murder threat

The car was later found abandoned at Hanwell station containing the knife and one of the child's shoes.

The court heard Francis had a history of abusing Miss Billing and had been given a restraining order in June 2006.

But he was twice released by magistrates and then a judge in the days before the attack.

He had been given a conditional discharge by Ealing magistrates after kicking his son and attacking Miss Billing three days before the stabbing.

He threatened to kill Miss Billing on 12 September, when he leapt from behind a bush and said: "One of us is going to die and it's not going to be me."

There are of course areas where we can learn from this case Metropolitan Police statement

Francis was arrested and held overnight by police but was released on bail by Brentford County Court the next morning.

Within 24 hours Miss Billing was dead.

The Metropolitan Police reviewed their decision not to charge Francis with making threats to kill on 12 September.

A statement said: "We were unable to protect Miss Billing from Francis' persistent attempts to harm both Wendy and himself and together with the courts we have reviewed our actions

"There are of course areas where we can learn from this case and continue to work with other justice agencies on the way forward."

The coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.