Review launched into murder of Caroline Gore as Manchester Evening News campaigns to change law

A review into the murder of Caroline Gore last year has been launched by Wigan council - as bosses promised to 'learn lessons' from the case.

Caroline was killed by her abusive ex-partner David Liptrot at her flat in Wigan, less than four weeks after he was spared jail for breaching a restraining order for a second time and walked free. The Manchester Evening News is now campaigning for the government to introduce a mandatory minimum prison sentence for breaches of protective orders like the one Liptrot ignored.

It comes after Caroline's family called for a change in the law. Speaking to the M.E.N. after Liptrot was sentenced to 20 years in August, Jo Gore said that the justice system failed her sister and that 'she'd still be here now if they'd kept him in'.

READ MORE: He was allowed to walk free... weeks later she was dead

Wigan council has now confirmed a Domestic Abuse Related Death review into the Caroline's case is underway. Previously known as a Domestic Homicide Review, the investigations are usually undertaken by a team of local statutory and voluntary bodies.

The multi-agency review, which family members and friends can take part in, seeks to identify and implement lessons learnt from deaths which have, or appear to have, resulted from domestic abuse. Their aim is to better protect victims in future and prevent further tragedies - by highlighting to the police and other agencies what can be done in future to strengthen the response.

Support our campaign here

A Wigan council spokesperson said: “While there is guidance on the time frame for a Domestic Abuse Related Death review, these reviews can often take longer to complete as they are dependent on the outcomes of other inquiries, for example, any ongoing criminal proceedings against the perpetrator. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we can confirm that a review into Caroline Gore’s murder is underway and we hope to have it concluded as soon as possible.

“Due to the length of time that criminal proceedings can take, we would always look to highlight any immediate lessons learnt in order to improve the safety of any future victims in the meantime. Once completed, the final report and findings of the review will be made publicly available.”

The local authority has backed the M.E.N. campaign calling for minimum jail terms for breaches of protective orders. Several Greater Manchester MPs have also supported the campaign, alongside charities that work with victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Hundreds of people have already signed our petition calling for a change in the law since it was launched on Sunday evening (November 3). Responding to the M.E.N. campaign, a government spokesperson said: "What happened to Caroline is just horrific.

"This government has a mission to halve violence against women and girls in 10 years. We are going further to protect victims of domestic abuse, which is why we are launching a pilot for new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders later this month in police forces and courts including in Greater Manchester.

"These new, strengthened orders will not have a minimum or maximum duration, allowing victims to obtain the protection they require for as long as needed, and will give the police and courts the powers to impose tougher restrictions on perpetrators."