Serial Killer Police Should Have Prevented Last 3 Murders (UK)

[Pert_UK]

"The inquiry into Britain's most prolific serial killer, Harold Shipman, today found that his last three victims could have been saved if the police had investigated other patients' deaths properly.

The two detectives whose 1998 investigation into the former family doctor failed to identify his murders were unfit to handle the case, according to the inquiry chairwoman, Dame Janet Smith.

Det Insp David Smith of Greater Manchester police was "out of his depth" and was not given proper supervision by his superior, Chief Supt David Sykes, she said today.

Det Insp Smith then lied to the Shipman inquiry in an attempt to deflect criticism away from himself.

A "properly directed investigation" into the unusually high death rate of Shipman's patients would probably have saved the lives of his last three victims - Winifred Mellor, Joan Melia and Kathleen Grundy....

A force spokeswoman today said Det Insp Smith will now face a misconduct investigation."

FYI, Dr Harold Shipman is serving life in prison for several murders, but police think that he could have been responsible for the deaths of over 300 patients. THREE HUNDRED...Pretty damning conclusion from the enquiry.

Full story:

http://society.guardian.co.uk/nhsperformance/story/0,8150,997944,00.html

[Elidor]

1. With his expertise, perhaps Dr. Shipman could do a work-release program

with the Texas Department of Corrections.