Beatings, threats and abuse but still addict was freed to murder ex-lover

Sean Francis stabbed Wendy Billing, 32, repeatedly in front of their three-year-old son at his nursery.

The 37-year-old drug addict then killed himself by jumping in front of a train.

An inquest into her death at West London Coroner's Court was expected to hear today how Francis walked free from court less than 24 hours before the attack on 14 September 2006.

It followed a string of missed opportunities to stop Francis.

On 9 September he was arrested for beating her. But despite a long history of domestic violence, he was given a conditional discharge at Ealing magistrates court on 12 September.

Later that day he approached her in the street and threatened to kill her - breaching a restraining order. He was arrested again and held in custody overnight.

On 13 September he faced a judge at Brentford county court for breaching the civil non-molestation order. Doing so carries a sentence of up to five years - but he was freed again.

Within 24 hours he had killed Ms Billing as their son John looked on.

Her sister Lucy, 26, said: "Why was he let out? If they had locked him up my sister would still be here.

"He was obsessive and followed her around. He was always on drugs, cannabis and crack, and used to beat her up. She always had black eyes and was covered with bruises.

"John has never talked about it [the murder] and hopefully he will never remember anything about that day. He still asks where his mummy is.

"We just tell him that she has gone to heaven."

Police had established a close relationship with Ms Billing over a long period of domestic violence.

Francis had not been charged with threatening to kill her and she was due to give a statement about the death threats on the day she was killed.

Before her death, Ms Billing had finally gathered the courage to end the abusive eight-year relationship after Francis attacked their son.

She left her flat in Hanwell and moved in with her parents, John and Linda, nearby. But Francis, also of Hanwell, started stalking her. On the day she died, he lay in wait as she picked up John at the Caterpillar Day Nursery, at Old Actonians Association Sports Club in Gunnersbury Drive.

When she tried to drive out he blocked her path, took the keys from the ignition, got into the passenger side and stabbed her in the heart, dragging her from the car. She died in hospital.

Nursery staff, who had been warned about Francis, managed to snatch John to safety from the back seat.

Francis drove to Hanwell station and threw himself under a train.

Ms Billing's sister Lucy said: "Wendy was very outgoing and sociable. She loved going out and partying with her friends. Wendy was my big sister. We have lost a link in the chain of our family and you never get over that."

A Scotland Yard review of the case concluded officers were not at fault, the Evening Standard has learned. Judge Marcus Edwards, who dealt with the case at Brentford, refused to comment when approached by the Standard.

An inquest into Francis's death is due to be held at West London Coroner's Court in Fulham tomorrow.