ROBERT "Jack" Carter suffered more than most in his life.

Afflicted by multiple sclerosis for 30 years, he battled hard to bear his disability with dignity, and that courage against such adversity makes his death even more tragic.

Mr Carter, 62, died at the brutal hands of Keith Jones who had been previously identified as a serious risk to the public because of a catalogue of violent offences dating back to 1986.

It is therefore not surprising that Mr Carter's family feels angry and let down by the public protection agencies which classified Jones as dangerous.

At a public protection forum meeting in April 2003, involving police, probation workers and social workers, Jones was described as a man who used weapons, was anti-authority, and posed a serious risk of harm. A year later, another meeting concluded that he was "high risk".

Jones was clearly considered to be a timebomb waiting to go off. So why wasn't more done to protect the public? How did he come to be in a position where he could batter a defenceless man to death so soon after such grim - and ultimately accurate - warnings had been sounded?

There are many questions which are still to be answered over the death of Jack Carter, a popular and caring father of two.

What is clear is that the inquiry into this appalling tragedy will not end with yesterday's murder verdict at Teesside Crown Court.