Teenage killer should have been wearing tag (From The Argus)

Teenage killer should have been wearing tag

11:55pm Monday 17th December 2007

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A teenage killer should have been wearing an electronic tag which could have prevented him from butchering his sleeping friend.

Murderer Kieran Wright, 17, was supposed to be at home when he killed his former schoolfriend Michael Morgan at a late night party.

An error by Worthing Magistrates' Court meant that he wasn't wearing a tag for two days.

The mix-up occurred after court officials sent through a notice to tag Wright with the wrong date on it.

During those two days Wright murdered 15-year-old Michael.

Last night the victim's heartbroken mother criticised court staff for the mistake, which she believes led to her son's death.

Wright, of Adelaide Square, Shoreham, who has a history of violence, was sentenced to life in prison last week for killing Michael on July 1.

He attacked his sleeping pal with two kitchen knives and a table leg with a screw protruding, causing 30 separate injuries to his head during the early hours.

Wright and Michael had spent the day drinking and smoking cannabis before going to their friend's party.

If he was wearing the tracking device it is understood police could have been alerted if he was out between 7pm and 7am.

Detective Inspector Jeff Riley, of Sussex Police Major Crime Branch, who investigated the murder, said Wright should have been wearing a tag.

He said: "He was supposed to be on a tag but there was some sort of communication breakdown between the magistrates' court and the tagging company."

Michael had spent the day drinking and smoking cannabis with Wright before attending a party at a caravan site in Brighton Road, Lancing.

Two days earlier, Wright had his tag removed but it could not be immediately replaced because court officials made a mistake when completing his paperwork.

The company which fits the tags, Group 4 Securicor (G4S), said Wright was given the device as part of his bail conditions for a previous offence.

A G4S spokesman said: "Kieran had been issued with a tag for a previous offence but once that issue expired the court was supposed to send through a new bail notice for a new tag.

"But the notice they sent through had the wrong date on it.

"G4S had to request that a new notice be sent to them and in the meantime he committed the murder.

"There was an overlapping period of a couple of days when he didn't wear a tag."

The judge ordered Wright be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure and recommended he serve at least 12 years before he is considered for release.

Wright has never given a reason for the attack, which the judge described as "an appalling act of wanton violence".

Michael's devastated mother Helen Long said she blames court officials for the mistake.

Mrs Long, of Nicolson Drive, Shoreham, said: "My son's death could have been avoided if not for this mistake.

"If he had been in his house my son would still be alive right now.

"At court Kieran's excuse was Michael was unfortunate because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"But it was Kieran who was in the wrong place at the wrong time because he shouldn't have been allowed to be out at night."

A tracking device is usually strapped to the offender's ankle when someone is tagged.

G4S staff install a monitoring box at their home to keep track of their whereabouts.

A signal is sent from the box to the G4S headquarters when it loses contact with the tagging equipment.

Officers then visit the address to check the offender has been sticking to their curfew.

Wright had a string of previous convictions for common assault before he committed murder.

In 2003 he attacked a victim from behind and the following year took part in a fight between ten youths.

In 2006 he kneed a boy in the face and punched another in the head.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman was unable to confirm Wright's bail conditions but said the vast majority of offenders who wore tags were required to be home between 7pm and 7am.

Staff at Worthing Magistrates' Court declined to comment.

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Court Service was unable to comment.

Leave your messages of support to Michael's family below.

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