The brother of torture murder victim Jimmy Prout is preparing to find out what lesson's might be learned from his horrific death.
Vulnerable Jimmy suffered a harrowing ordeal while being held captive at the home of twisted killer Zahid Zaman, in Percy Main, near North Shields, before he was eventually killed, in 2016
Zaman and accomplice Ann Corbett, who was Jimmy's partner, were jailed for life after being convicted of Jimmy's murder.
But the tragic victim's brother has always believed more Jimmy's brutal slaying could have perhaps been prevented if his vulnerabilities had been recognised. The 57-year-old has spent the past six years eagerly awaiting the publication of a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR), which he hopes will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Now he has been invited to a meeting with North Tyneside Council, the lead agency on the review, next week where he hopes to find out some of the reports contents.
And today Eddie has thanked the Chronicle for its ongoing coverage of his brother's case, which he feared might be "swept under the carpet".
Eddie said: "It's taken six years to get this far but I'm feeling positive that there's finally been some progress.
"I don't think this would have happened if it wasn't for the Chronicle. I don't think it would have got to this stage."
Jimmy, who suffered from learning difficulties, died after he was held captive at the house, on St Stephen’s Way, subjected to a campaign of grotesque violence.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Zaman subjected 45-year-old Jimmy, from Scotswood in Newcastle, to unbelievable cruelty while keeping him at his house.
Jimmy died on February 9, 2016, and his body was discovered more than a month later on wasteland near the Tyne Tunnel.
The court heard how disabled Zaman was the leader of a cult-like group of women, which included Kay Rayworth, Ann Corbett and Myra Wood.
Zaman and Corbett attacked Jimmy, while Rayworth and Wood stood by and did nothing to help.
Zaman cut out one of Jimmy's testicles and forced him to eat it, knocked his teeth out with a hammer and chisel and forced him to have to sex with a dog.
After a trial in 2017 serial liar Zaman, then 43, was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years behind bars. Corbett, then 26, was also found guilty of murder and given a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years.
Rayworth, 56, and 50-year-old Wood, were cleared of the killing but convicted of for causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and perverting the course of justice. Both were jailed for 12 years.
DHRs are carried out when someone aged 16 or over dies as the result of the actions of a partner or family member.
These multi-agency reviews aim to establish what lessons can be learned from these tragedies in a bid to prevent future deaths and improve safeguarding.
Eddie has always believed that lives could be saved if lessons are learned from Jimmy's murder.
And he has been frustrated by the length of time it's taken to publish the DHR.
However, North Tyneside Council has previously said this was due to the complexity of the case.
A spokeswoman said: “This is an extremely complex review due to the horrific nature of the crime and number of perpetrators involved and the level of detail provided by numerous agencies and services which have been included in the report.
“We have met with Edward Prout and kept him informed as to the progress of the report, he provided some very touching and thoughtful words about his brother to the report and we will continue to keep him, and his family, engaged as the process progresses."
“Following this It must then be approved to the local community safety partnership for approval and then to the Home Office Assurance Board, both of whom can make recommendations for amendments before the final version can be made public.”
Eddie added: "I have just got to wait and see what they say now, but I feel like things are moving now."
