Final Version To Be Released Today

The standard of mental health care received by a man who went on to murder a pensioner in Bristol is to be addressed in a new report.

NHS South West is behind the inquiry into the incident, which saw 43-year-old Stephen Newton stab Philip Hendy, 75, close to his home in Bristol in 2007.

Newton, who was under the care of Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health Trust and was delusional, was jailed for a minimum of 16 years in relation to the crime.

It is hoped the final version of the new report, released today, will determine if there were any failures in the care given to Newton before the incident took place.

Kate Easy, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office, said: “This tragic case outlines the importance of vigilance at all times in the care and supervision of mentally ill patients by mental health trusts in order to protect members of the public but also the patients themselves.

“We can only hope that the official inquiry into these terrible events is forthright in identifying failings and making recommendations which will ensure that this cannot happen again.”