Reading terror stabbings inquest evidence concludes

The inquest into the deaths of three people murdered in a terror attack in a Reading park has heard its last day of evidence, with the judge coroner hoping to deliver his findings on 26 April.

Khairi Saadallah stabbed James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, in Forbury Gardens, in June 2020.

Sir Adrian Fulford apologised to families of the victims for the delay in releasing his findings, but said the complex evidence required reflection and thought.

Counsel for the men's families said there had been a growing recognition of the number of missed opportunities to prevent the attack.

Saadallah was handed a whole-life sentence after pleading guilty to three murders and three attempted murders in January 2021.

The inquest into the deaths opened on 15 January, with staff from probation, immigration, police and MI5 all giving evidence.

Mr Furlong's father, Gary Furlong, spoke outside the Old Bailey on behalf of the victims' families.

He said that, throughout the inquest, their "shock and utter disappointment at the way these public bodies have functioned has deepened".

"...to the point that we fundamentally question whether our faith in their combined ability to protect our families was misplaced," he said.

He said families had heard "evidence of poor communication, meaning the individuals tasked with monitoring Saadallah and protecting the public did not have full and accurate information about the risk of harm he posed".

"We trust the judge coroner will take all of this into account when he gives his conclusion," he said.

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