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Probation blunders left sadist free to kill students
Paul Cheston, Martin Bentham and Justin Davenport05.06.09
Two French students who were brutally murdered in London by a pair of sadistic killers would never have died but for a series of appalling blunders by probation staff and police.
Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez were stabbed a total of 244 times before their bodies and flat in New Cross were set on fire in a crime the judge described as “the worst I have ever had to deal with”.
Today Dano Sonnex, 23, and Nigel Farmer, 34, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey. Sonnex must serve a minimum of 40 years and Farmer 35.
Today the full details of the errors which left Sonnex, a violent sociopath from one of south London's most notorious families, free to kill were disclosed for the first time.
The failings include a 33-day delay by probation staff authorising his return to jail for breaching the terms of his release from an earlier sentence and an equally fatal 16 days of inaction by police after an arrest warrant was finally issued.
Mr Justice Saunders warned the killers that they may never be released.
He said he showed them mercy only because of their youth. Their only hope of release would be in old age and only then if the parole board believed they were no longer a danger to the public.
“The misery and suffering you have caused cannot be measured,” the judge told them. “These are the worst crimes I have ever had to deal with. No punishment I can pass can ever bring comfort to the families.
“I sentence you to life imprisonment and I anticipate that may well mean life.
“But because of your ages I impose fixed terms so when you are old and perhaps in poor health, if the Parole Board considers it right, you could be released on licence. But it may well be you will never be released.”
Sonnex, watched by his father Bernie senior and younger brother George in the public gallery, winked and pretended to whistle in a show of defiance as he was led to the cells.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw apologised to the victims' families for the “appalling, sadistic and gratuitous murders” and conceded that “very serious failures” had allowed the killings to happen.
Laurent Bonomo's mother Lydie said: “It's tragic that if the administration had done its job, my son and Gabriel would still be living.
“It doesn't bring back my son but I'm relieved these men are behind bars and can never kill again.”
Today, however, the tragic chain of events which allowed Sonnex to carry out the brutal murders can be revealed after legal restrictions covering the case ended.
He had been jailed for eight years in 2003 after being convicted of four robberies, wounding with intent, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery and assault with intent to resist arrest.
In statements read by Crispin Aylett QC, Gabriel Ferez's father Olivier said he now has to turn his head away whenever he sees a wedding or people enjoying themselves: “Their demonstration of joy is like so many stab wounds to my heart.”
He added: “You have taken Gabriel from us and you have taken away what little happiness we had.
“You have shown yourselves to be cowards even towards each other in your defence and explanations.”
Guy Bonomo, father of Laurent, said: “I wish from the bottom of my heart that you will stay in prison for the rest of your lives.
“I can't bear to think that someone so evil will walk the streets again, that my daughter or a member of my family will encounter you again.”
Reader views (26)
JACKBOOT STRAW IS AN HYPOCRITE AND SHOULD RESIGN NOW.
GORMLESS BROWN IS SERIOUSLY DELUDED AND NEEDS INVESTIGATING BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.
MEDDLESUM IS A DIRECT DANGER TO DEMOCRACY IN THE UK.
BLUNKETT IS AN EVEN BIGGER DIRECT DANGER TO DEMOCRACY IN THE UK.
THE ENTIRE SHIFTY LABOUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESIGN.
THEY HAVE TURNED THE UK INTO A POLICE STATE.
JOE PUBLIC ARE BEING MADE TO LIVE IN FEAR.
MEANWHILE, JACKBOOT STRAW BELIEVES HE IS RUNNING A JACKBOOT AUTOCRACY.
GET RID OF THE LOT OF THESE PARASITES.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe, Lancaster
Why am I not surprised anymore? The Probation Service:
friend to murders, rapists, peados, burglers etc.; more
concerned about the Human Rights of these pieces of
excrement than to protect innocent members of the
public.
- Lb, Bromley
Yet again , another example of 'Tough on Crime , Tough on the causes of crime'.This government is a disgrace.Soldiers die in unprotected vehicles , criminals are released early, all utimately because of a lack of resources.I hope in future , the public aren't taken in by platitudes.
- Chris M, morbihan,france
Very sad for the poor families but welcome to Britain where there is no justice for the victims or their families.
- Suzzy, UK
britain is the cesspit of europe. why don´t you do something about it??? i´m a foreigner and my heart is bleeding when i watch this once great country in this misery. 
((
- Dominik Von Muehlberg, Cologne, Germany
THE UK IS A LOST CAUSE, EVERYDAY IT IS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE LOONY BIN ,CORUPT GOVERNMENT THE GOVERMENT INVESTIGATING THE POLICE, THE POLICE INVESTIGATING THE GOVERNMENT, AN UNELECTED HAPLESS PRIME MINISTER, NOBODY WANTS TO VOTE ANYMORE BECAUSE ALL OUR SYSTEMS ARE CORUPT, THE EXPENSES SCAM HAS BEEN RUMBLED, AND NOBODY SEEMS TO DO THEIR JOBS PROPERLY ANYMORE NO WONDER SARKOSI DID NOT INVITE THE QUEEN TO THEIR DO HE MUST THINK TO HIMSELF THAT THE UK HAS TAKEN LEAVE OF ITS SCENSES ,THESE TO FRENCH GUYS DIED A PAINFUL HORRIBLE DEATH BECAUSE THE UK IS DISGRACE BROWN WANTS TO HANG HIS HEAD IN SHAME I FOR ONE CAN NOT STOMACH BROWN HE MAKES ME ILL JUST LOOKING AT HIM, HE IS JUST A CHANCER I REMEMBER HE AND CAME ROUND OUR STREETS ON THE BACK OF A LORRY YEARS AGO NEAR GLASGOW HE WAS DRESSED LIKE A TRAMP TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR LABOUR.
- James Fennessey, london
"Police blunders left sadist free to kill students" reads the headline. What police blunders? A related article suggests that the police may have been responsible for failing to arrest Sonnex some considerable time after ALL of the other relevant agencies had failed.
- Bj, London
An apology from a government minister who is an apology for a government minister. Jack Straw makes Gordon Brown look competent and Tony Blair seem trustworthy.
- C.Nichol, London
As a serving Police Officer I have all too often witnessed these sickening failings of the so-called Criminal Justice System (which ironically does everything it can to give Justice to the criminals).
This lousy rotten sham of a government have been outrageously incompetent and soft on dangerous criminals.
One prisoner who was convicted of attempted murder of a Police Officer by shooting him with a shotgun was sentenced to 12 years in 2004 but was released in 2007!!
We desperately need a strong minded Government who will finally have some backbone to introduce tough sentences which actually punish criminals.
Nu-Labour have been a disgrace putting the criminal's "Yuman Rites" above everything else.Despicable.
- A.Non Pc, London,UK
In line with the words of the father of one of the victims, these two shouldn't be allowed out - their sentences are too lenient.
We don't need an expensive and lengthy public inquiry to resolve the series of blunders that took place. Internal investigations resulting in the sacking of those responsible will suffice.
- Austen, London
Hang 'em in public.
- Dom, London
do boris and his ilks read this stuff or they to busy filling out expenses claims
- Ian, ex- pat, dustbin of the world
35 years sounds like a realistic term. Is sanity back in fashion?
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
So Jack Straw's apologised. Well that's alright then! Looks like Law and Order isn't strong point either eh Jack, as well as accountancy!?
- Chris, Brighton, England.
35 years sounds like a realistic term. Is sanity back in fashion?
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
Just think, because of the pathetic justice system we have these vermin may be walking the streets again in 7 years.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
It's for these peoples that we need to reinstitute the death penalty!
- Claire, France
Will someone now go over the reasons why we do not have capital punishment?
I'm sure you will make a good case.
no one will believe it tho'
- Kedge, m