A REPORT examining how to prevent
Suffolk children suffering the same fate as tragic tot Luigi Askew was due to be
released today.
Earlier this month 32-year-old Duncan Mills was found guilty of murdering his
month-old son Luigi on May 26 last year as well as battering the baby's mother
Samantha Askew the same day.
Following little Luigi's death a statutory report on how the issue was dealt
with - a Serious Case Review - has been drafted by Suffolk's Safeguarding
Children Board and a meeting to discuss the findings was due to take place
today.
As revealed previously in The Evening Star, Suffolk County Council would not
release the findings of the public document until after the board had met to
discuss it.
Back in 2002 killer Duncan Mills received a two-year prison sentence at
Ipswich Crown Court after admitting viciously assaulting his then girlfriend on
Valentine's Day.
During the assault he tried to force a mobile phone into her mouth and punched
her in the face.
One of the questions hanging over Suffolk County Council social workers before
the publication of today's report was whether social services were aware of
Mills' violent past and if this was taken into account when assessing baby
Luigi's safety.
During this month's murder trial it emerged Suffolk County Council social
workers had been in contact with Miss Askew over concerns she was a victim of
domestic abuse at the hand of former rapper Mills, who lived in London Road.
However Luigi was deemed to be “well cared” for and no action was taken.
Does more need to be done to protect vulnerable children?
The Evening Star put four vital questions to Suffolk County Council following
the revelation that social workers had been in contact with Samantha Askew
regarding concerns she was a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of killer
Duncan Mills.
To make sure a tragedy like the death of baby Luigi Askew never happens again it
is essential that today's report fully addresses these issues.
Was a comprehensive risk assessment carried out and, if so, what were the
findings?
On how many occasions did social workers visit Miss Askew to assess her
situation?
Were social services aware of Duncan Mills' violent past?
What changes have been made to procedures within social services?
Family’s fury with
Social Services
Merthyr Express Dec 6 2007
