Victoria's killers called to inquiry

The mother of Victoria Climbie will come face-to-face with her daughter's murderer for the first time since her death when Marie-Therese Kouao is taken from jail to appear at the public inquiry, it was revealed today.

Kouao, 44, will be brought from the maximum security Durham Prison to a specially-convened hearing of the inquiry at a crown court. Co-defendant Carl Manning, 28, is expected to give evidence by video link. The hearing will be the first of its kind ever to take evidence from convicted killers.

The move follows months of uncertainty as to whether the pair - both jailed for life earlier this year - would be called. While both denied guilt in Victoria's murder, it is thought they may be able to shed valuable light on the conduct of social services staff, police and hospitals facing criticism for failing to prevent the eight-year-old's death.

It is understood that the request for the pair to give evidence has come from Victoria's parents Berthe and Francis Climbie, along with legal representatives for Haringey Council and one of the police child protection officers involved.

Manning has already co-operated with the inquiry's investigators. However, the inquiry has decided to exercise its legal powers to summons Kouao in person after she failed to co-operate with initial attempts to interview her in jail.

The inquiry has been told by Kouao's legal team that she would not be willing to give evidence since it might prejudice any appeal against conviction. The hearing's chairman Lord Laming has the power to summons her under Section 250 of the Local Government Act, although he accepts that she may still refuse to speak. Her lawyers would then be ordered to give a detailed statement of grounds for her refusal.