Alice Gross' Family Want Police Questioned

The family of murdered teenager Alice Gross have urged the coroner to investigate why British authorities were apparently unaware of her killer's criminal past.

The 14-year-old disappeared last August and her body was found the following month in the Grand Union Canal in Ealing, west London.

Arnis Zalkalns was found hanged in nearby woodland a few days later.

Police confirmed they believed the 41-year-old was responsible for Alice's death and were not seeking anyone else in connection with the crime.

The Latvian had been convicted of murdering his wife in his native country, serving jail time before moving to Britain in 2007.

It also emerged Zalkalns was arrested in London on suspicion of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2009, but was never charged.

Alice's relatives now want a coroner to investigate what British officials were aware of - and what they should have been aware of in relation to Zalkalns' convictions.

Liberty, the human rights organisation representing Alice's family, has made submissions that the case engages Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life.

If the coroner agrees with this, the inquest at West London Coroner's Court would not be limited to looking only at the cause of Alice's death.

At a pre-inquest review at the court, Rajeev Thacker, representing Alice's family, said: "(For) somebody who has a criminal record, systems seemed to have been in place, we don't know exactly what they were, or what was done with them - Alice's family would like to know.

"I suspect there is a wider public interest in knowing for the future, as well."

Mr Thacker submitted that it would be appropriate to investigate what supervision measures Zalkalns was under after he was freed from prison.

He added: "What we know is that the Home Office did check incoming passengers against a warning index since 2007 - before Mr Zalkalns came to the UK.

"The first question is was there a check of Mr Zalkalns when he came in."

The Gross family, who were at the hearing, said: "Losing Alice has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled.

"But our questions about why the authorities knew nothing about her murderer, despite his previous conviction and arrest, can and should be answered. We hope the coroner will agree."

They repeated their plea, however, that Alice's death not be used to score points by those with an anti-immigration agenda, adding: "We believe in freedom of movement and human rights, as did Alice.

"We live in a multicultural and multifaith area, and our community has been extraordinary in its unity, sympathy, compassion and support for our family since our daughter was taken from us in this brutal and senseless way."

Vincent Williams, representing the Metropolitan Police, said the force was taking a "neutral" stance on the issues, but "the police are not accepting that the police may have had some responsibility for the death".

A full inquest into Alice's death is due to be held at the end of November or the beginning of December.

Senior Coroner Chinyere Inyama is expected to hand down his ruling on the scope of the inquest within 21 days.

He reserved judgment on whether it would be a jury inquest.