Reform demands FULL inquest into murder of aspiring marine by Afghan asylum seeker who lied about age

The Afghan was enrolled in a secondary school in nearby Bournemouth after arriving in 2019 but was moved to a different school after being found with a knife on the premises.

Rachael Griffin, the senior coroner for Dorset, ruled on Wednesday that a full inquest into Robert’s death was not necessary because there were “individual errors” rather than a “systemic failure”.

In the coroner’s report, Griffin noted that when Abdulrahimzai arrived, no assessment was carried out to assess his age.

Further, when his fingerprints were eventually taken several weeks later, they revealed links with Norway and Italy, but no request for further information was made to those countries.

Asking for further details would have revealed that his age was in doubt.

The month after he arrived, a dentist said Abdulrahimzai was older than he claimed and while authorities felt an age assessment was needed, they wanted to prioritise a mental health screening first.

There were also multiple incidents with Abdulrahimzai carrying knives, and in further violent incidents hurt another student at school and tried to headbutt his foster carer.

• Yvette Cooper under fire for taking credit for drop in small boat numbers in July and August
• SNAP POLL: Is it right that blue badge holders lose access to free parking? Have your say now
• Nationalise building societies - it will slash mortgages - Nigel Nelson

When he moved schools after being found with a knife, he injured another pupil.

Then on the evening of March 10, 2022, just over a day before Roberts was murdered, police were told about a person carrying a machete-style knife.

Peter Wallace, Robert’s step-father, told GB News that the inquest was being blocked because it would show a “catalogue” of failings.

“I find this so unbelievable. We’ve waited over a year, it’s been postponed twice now and now they’ve cancelled.”

Wallace added: “It’s because they have failed in so many ways, they don’t want to hold an inquest because it will show the catalogue of failings that they are responsible for.

“They’ll just sweep it under the rug so no one is made aware.”

Wallace’s call for an inquest has now been echoed by a political party for the first time, with Reform UK saying that it is “outrageous” that the Home Office has blocked an inquest.

Ann Widdecombe, Reform UK Spokeswoman and former Home Office Minister, supported Roberts’ family, who are calling for a full and comprehensive inquest into the murder.

“Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai travelled all over Europe before he came to these shores, he shot two men dead in Serbia and claimed to be 14 on arrival. He was removed from the school he was placed in in Bournemouth because he was carrying a knife to school, and yet no action was taken.”

She added: “It is outrageous that the Border Force and the Home Office are blocking a full inquest. We know why of course.

“An inquest of the sort that the family are demanding would open up the Government to scrutiny and expose what many already know, that young men who are arriving as immigrants or asylum seekers are claiming to be minors.

“This puts British citizens at risk, particularly vulnerable children in our schools.

“Tom Roberts died because of this failure. How many more will suffer before something changes?”