Damien Bendall, 33, was handed a whole-life sentence for the murders of 35-year-old Terri Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her son John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey's friend Connie Gent, 11, after attacking them with a claw hammer at a property in Killamarsh, Derbyshire. He also admitted to raping Lacey as she lay dying.
It emerged that the killer had a string of convictions and a history of violence prior to the murders in September 2021, leading Dominic Raab, the justice secretary, to open a review into the Probation Service's handling of Bendall, a repeat offender who had been under its supervision since 2011.
Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said the Probation Service's work with Bendall was of an "unacceptable standard" at every stage - including approving him to be curfewed in Harris's home months before he killed her and the children.
This story is from the January 17, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the January 17, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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