An inquest into how a psychotic woman was able to kill a seven-year-old girl in a Bolton park will examine whether the government 'or its agents' failed to protect her.
Emily Jones died on Mothers Day, 2020 after racing on her scooter to meet her mother in Queens Park.
She was killed by 30-year-old Eltiona Skana, who had been sitting on a park bench wearing a hoodie. before grabbing her victim.
She slit the little girl's throat with a craft knife she had bought from a pound shop on that fateful day on March 22.
Skana, a paranoid diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, has since been convicted of manslaughter, by means of diminished responsibility, and was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 10 years and eight months. She has since appealed against that sentence.
At a pre-inquest review, senior coroner for Manchester West Timonthy Brennand was told of a report by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, but is also awaiting a second independent report commissioned by NHS England into the management of Skana's treatment and risk assessments leading up to her release into the community.
READ MORE: Woman guilty of killing seven-year-old Emily Jones appeals against life sentence
Mr Brennand said that the inquest would not be held until the full circumstances of 'how a psychologically disordered individual came to be in the community and how the risk to the community was assessed and managed'.
The coroner said that the hearing - likely to take place in late June or early July, 2022 - would be an 'Article 2' inquest. These are enhanced inquests where the state or its agents may have failed to protect the deceased again a human threat or other risk, or where there has been a death in custody.
Mr Brennand said the 'public interest would not be adequately served' without evidence about Skana's medical care - not heard at her trial - being examined.
Lawyer Sefton Kwasnik, representing Emily's father Mark Jones and mother Sarah Barnes, said there was also 'concern' as to the 'exact process' by which Skana came to reside in the UK.
In his submission to Mr Brennand, he said: "She entered this country illegally and it is known her initial application for asylum was rejected.
"That decision was appealed and it was allowed and it is understood that she was given residence until 2024.
"That decision was taken only a year before this tragedy. What is also now known is that within quite a short space of time she was known to mental health services and was detained as early as 2015.
"It is not known if her psychiatric history formed part of the asylum process. What's also now known is that she admitted to lying to the authorities about her route to the UK. it is not known whether the authorities investigated her lie.
"The family would urge this court to make enquiries of the Home Office in relation to the key events during the asylum process which led to the perpetrator being resident in the UK when this horrendous event took place."
Mr Brennad said he understood and sympathised with the family. He went on: "They ask themselves, 'but for a serious of decisions and events, could this have been avoided?' I understand that."
But he said to make any ruling would 'premature', because it was an 'Article 2' inquest, and said: "I remain open-minded and will make a decision once I have considered any further evidence I have."
Mr Brennand said there would be another pre-inquest review at a date to be determined, probably in March 22, when it is hoped the independent report commissioned by NHS England into Skana's care would be available.
The target date for an inquest expected to last about five days is towards the end June, 2022.
GMMH NHS Foundation Trust are also legally represented for the inquest process.
