He was viewed as a ticking timebomb
A report stated that a mother spent years in fear of her son who went on to murder her and his stepfather in a frenzied knife attack.
Anmol Chana made multiple threats to kill his mother before eventually killing her.
But authorities failed to prevent Chana’s attack at the family home in Oldbury, instead blaming Jasbir Kaur for “weak” parenting.
Chana had been known to social services, GPs and mental health teams since childhood due to his violent behaviour which worried his teachers.
Jasbir and her daughter spent years reaching out for support, terrified Chana would eventually kill one of them.
Chana was said to be “obsessed” with weapons and had warned he would kill his mum.
He was viewed as a ticking timebomb and in February 2020, he stabbed his mother and her husband Rupinder Singh Bassan more than 20 times at their home.
After being convicted of their murders, Chana received a life sentence with a minimum term of 36 years.
Chana claimed he killed them in self-defence but jurors concluded he was lying.
A domestic homicide review has now delivered a damning verdict on the actions of agencies involved with the family in the years before the murders who could have helped save the tragic couple.
The report, published by the Safer Sandwell Partnership, revealed how Chana had been a “constant threat” to his mother and had made a number of “threats to kill”.
The family had been “seeking support” and “felt in danger” but their concerns “went unaddressed”.
Jasbir was blamed for poor parenting and “labelled weak” despite her cries for help.
The report stated that the signs Chana was violent and dangerous had been there from an early age. He talked about his “interest in death, hurting people or animals”.
Chana had spoken to psychologists “openly about his fascination with weapons and did not show any remorse or empathy for his mother or sister”.
After living with friends for some time, Chana moved back in with his mother in 2016.
The following year, he assaulted his mother, resulting in his arrest. However, Chana was not charged.
The report said Jasbir “remained at almost constant threat” from him from then on.
It said: “The review recognised significant victim blaming by professionals in their response.
“Far from being ‘weak’ (a term used repeatedly to describe her parenting) she had shown incredible strength.”
“That (Chana) was never formally assessed by mental health professionals in adulthood and was not referred to mental health services by his GP or (A&E) staff, because he was unwilling to engage, meant the family’s concerns went unaddressed.
“They felt in the months before the homicide that he was exhibiting elements of psychosis and was a danger to them and others.
“The lack of awareness of pathways to mental health support meant the family were given only limited guidance on the rights of a nearest relative to seek a (mental health) assessment.
“The review will never know what the outcome of such an assessment in the last months of (Ms Kaur and Mr Bassan’s) lives would have concluded.
“It is possible that he would have been identified as suffering a mental health crisis requiring emergency assessment and hospitalisation.”
Following the review, Sandwell Children’s Safeguarding Partnership has changed its guidance in a bid to help professionals recognise child-to-parent abuse.
Chief Superintendent Maria Fox, chair of the Safer Sandwell Partnership, said:
“It is clear from the report that, over many years of agencies’ involvement with the perpetrator, more could have been done to address his violent behaviour and poor mental health, while also providing better support to his mother and sister who lived with ongoing fear and anxiety about what he would do next.
“This review shows that professionals need to look at the whole family, not just individual family members, when responding to issues such as domestic abuse, including child-to-parent abuse.
“The report explains how a number of services’ interactions would be different today – with updated safeguarding policies and procedures and a greater awareness among professionals of the impact of adverse childhood experiences and of child-to-parent abuse, which were both key factors in this case.
“There are also a number of recommendations arising from the review to help us continue strengthening the way professionals and agencies work to protect and support individuals and families.
“Partner organisations have accepted these and made changes as a result.
“Cases like this are rare but utterly devastating for those affected, as well as impacting on the local community.
“It is therefore vital that we continue to take forward the learning from this review.
“It is also important for people to know that the abuse they are experiencing is not their fault and there are services available to provide help and support.
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