Frustrated son killed his dad just days after prison release

A "frustrated" son killed his dad just two days after leaving prison. Barrie Forster, 82, was attacked at his home by his son Steven Forster, now 42, in November 2020.

A coroner has ruled the death could have been prevented had proper assessments been made following the son's release. Andrew Cox, senior coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said it would likely have been deemed that Steven living at Barrie's address in Camborne was unsuitable.

He said had this been assessed by the probation service, the assault may likely not have occurred when it did. Steven punched his dad repeatedly and he later died from multiple organ failure. Forster was convicted of manslaughter in 2022 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

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An inquest into the circumstances of Barrie's death was held at Cornwall's Coroner's Court in Truro over two days this week (on November 4 and 5). It found that he was "unlawfully killed".

Evidence heard how, before the killing, Steven had three spells in custody, with his most recent sentences imposed after violent offences against his sister. She had the protection of a restraining order following these sentences.

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Writing to both the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Angela Rayner, and the secretary of state for justice, Shabana Mahmood, Mr Cox said in a Prevention of Future Deaths report (PFD): "I recorded a conclusion that Barrie was unlawfully killed.

"In the event proper assessments had been made of the risk the perpetrator posed to Barrie and/or of the suitability of Barrie’s address as somewhere for the perpetrator to live, it is more likely than not that the perpetrator would not have been permitted to live at Barrie’s address upon release from custody and the assault would not have occurred when it did."

He found that the risks Steven posed to Barrie had not been assessed properly, or at all, by the probation service, particularly in light of recent assaults against other members of the family. He also found no adequate assessment had been made by the probation service regarding the suitability of Barrie’s address.

Mr Cox found there is a lack of accommodation available to the probation service in which prisoners released from custody may properly be placed. "As a consequence, some prisoners are being released and become effectively homeless while others are accommodated at unsuitable premises, as happened in this instance.

He concluded in his report, sent on November 5: "In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you [AND/OR your organisation] have the power to take such action." Read the full report, here.

The deadline for responding to a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report is 56 days. You can read the details from the trial and sentencing hearing, here.