THE first day of an inquest into the murder of 22-year-old Nicola Sutton finished with evidence of the horrific events leading up to her death.

At Warrington Coroner's Court, Claire Borello, a friend of the Orford care assistant, recalled Nicola's last day alive on September 26, 2006 when she was brutally murdered by her ex- boyfriend Barry Stone.

The inquest, held before Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, heard how Stone, a cocaine addict with a history of violence toward women, attacked first himself and then Nicola with a samurai sword at one of his friend's homes in Gorse Covert.

Stone, who committed suicide before he was convicted of murder, had been released on licence a month prior to Nicola's death after serving nine months of an 18-month sentence for two assaults against her.

Testimonies were also heard from Nicola's best friend Hannah Dutton, DC Christine Stubbs - family liasion officer for the Suttons, Stone's ex-wife Sarah Marshall, PC Warren Nomdedeu - domestic violence liasion officer and Nicola's devastated mum Lynn Sutton.

Nicola's family believe significant failings occurred in the duty of care of the police, probation service and prison service leading to Nicola's death.

The inquest continues.

Click here to go to our special news section on the inquest.