Murder victims of sadist were ‘failed’ by police

THE police “failed” a young couple brutally murdered by a sadistic ex-partner who was released on bail before the attack.

Marcus Osborne was given a whole-life order yesterday for murdering his ex-partner and her new boyfriend in a “ferocious and merciless” knife killing on May 15 last year.

After the double attack – which left Katie Higton, 27, with 99 injuries and Steven Harnett, 25, with 24 wounds including mutilated genitals – Osborne said: “Romeo and Juliet can die together now.”

Leeds Crown Court heard that on May 10 last year – five days before the murders – Ms Higton went to Huddersfield police station to make a complaint about Osborne, 35, and spoke to a member of staff over the phone later that day.

She was visited by an officer from West Yorkshire Police on May 11.

During phone calls to the police, Ms Higton said Osborne had told her that “if she ever got a boyfriend, he would kill them both”.

On May 12, Osborne was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and bailed with conditions not to go back to their home, but he went to the street to spy on her over the following days.

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Mr Harnett’s twin brother, Jordan, said: “The police have failed Steven and Katie – a young couple who had their whole lives ahead of them.”

He added: “The core duty of the police is to prevent crime, so how is a man with a history of domestic violence allowed to walk freely from a police station just a couple of days prior to him murdering my brother and his girlfriend.

“Katie went to the police originally with the intent of making domestic violence allegations against Marcus. She was told to come back

‘Kent went to the police with domestic violence allegations’

tomorrow to give a statement.”

A statement read on behalf of Mr Harnett’s mother, Janine Parkin, said: “While I hold one person accountable, I hold the police responsible. It’s not acceptable these days to ignore cries for help, especially when they are life-threatening.”

Osborne, 35, also has convictions for violent offences against two previous partners in 2011 and 2012.

The case is being reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.