Family's distress over authorities' 'failure' to fully probe man's death
The family of a vulnerable man who was murdered by a drug addict has said that failures by a coroner and other authorities to undertake a "full and fearless" investigation into his death "has only deepened our distress".
Christopher Laskaris, 24, was stabbed to death in his flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds in November 2016 by a man who had only just been released on licence from a jail sentence.
His mother, Fiona, and sister, Cara, have campaigned since his death for answers about why Mr Laskaris was not properly diagnosed with autism and given more support in the community, where he was left open to "abuse and exploitation".
The family also believe that police left him at risk when officers smashed in his front door in the days before Philip Craig killed him and then failed to make sure the flat was properly secured.
But West Yorkshire area coroner Jonathan Leach ruled both these issues were beyond the scope of the inquest into Mr Laskaris's death, which concluded on Wednesday.
In a statement read by barrister Jake Richards outside Wakefield Coroner's Court, the family said:
The family, who launched a crowdfunding campaign the fund legal representation, said:
Mrs Laskaris, who lives in Surrey, was in tears on Monday when she described the "living nightmare" of the years of battles she had as she tried to get appropriate diagnosis and support for her son.
Philip Craig was jailed for life for Mr Laskaris's murder in May 2017 and told he must serve a minimum of 25 years.
Craig had been released from prison on licence in February 2016.
He was recalled to prison three months later after he was charged in relation to allegations of domestic violence but was released again in September 2016 when the charges were dropped.
Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, Mr Leach ruled that, to the knowledge of the private probation provider, Craig had not done anything that justified his further recall to prison.