Straw in talks over bail murder

This follows a complaint by Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North, about the release of Adam Swellings.

The 19-year-old was out on bail and one of three youths convicted of murdering Garry Newlove, 47.

Mr Straw is now set to meet Mr Newlove's family and also discuss the release of his killer with Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North.

The father-of-three died two days after being "kicked like a football" when he confronted a gang in Warrington in August 2007.

"He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead"
Helen Newlove

One of the conditions of Swellings' bail release had been that he did not go to Warrington. He had been released only hours before he attacked Mr Newlove.

Swellings, 19, of Meredith Street, Crewe, Stephen Sorton, 17 of Honister Avenue, Warrington, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, were convicted of the sales manager's murder on 16 January.

'Absolutely disgusted'

After the verdict, Helen Newlove, 44, said she was disgusted that Swellings was allowed to go free and later kill her husband.

She said: "We knew he had previous convictions but it was a shock to myself and to my family to hear he had been released that day.

"I'm absolutely disgusted. These magistrates - it's unbelievable. They let him out and they walk the streets. He's not taken a blind bit of notice of the conditions of bail.

"He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead."

Earlier reports had suggested Mr Straw would be meeting MPs to discuss the wider issue of people who kill while out on bail, but this is not currently the case.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Jack Straw has offered to sit down with Helen Jones MP and the [Newlove] family to hear what they have to say.

"And then, as the prime minister indicated at Prime Minister's Questions, to consider what further changes may be necessary."