A review into the killing of a pensioner by his long-term schizophrenic son just hours after health professionals decided not to section him has highlighted a number of failings.

The Domestic Homicide Review looked into the treatment of Tony Wotton and his family, after he repeatedly stabbed his father Terence Wotton on September 12 2011.

The review is published just after an inquest decided this week Terence Wotton was killed unlawfully by his schizophrenic son after medical staff failed to assess him properly.

Terry Wotton, 71, died at his home in Mackenzie Way, Gravesend, which he shared with his wife and son Tony, 48.

It came after an assessment under the Mental Health Act hours earlier had concluded he was not detainable.

At 10.30pm that day - after weeks of not taking his medication - Tony Wotton inflicted the fatal knife wounds.

But the review into his care by health professionals found the family had a history of knife incidents, in which Terry was attacked by his son. At least seven incidents dated back to 1991.

The review decided that, on the day of the killing: "There was no safeguarding measure in place to protect the family or indeed an increasing vulnerable patient.

"Brian had now been without medication for six weeks.

"If staff had fully understood his history and the risks he posed they may not have so readily accepted an informal agreement with him."

The panel concluded that, based on the information given to them, the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Parntership Trust (KMPT) "could have done more to reduce the risk that (Tony) presented, especially to his father.

"There was more that could have been done in terms of risk identification, putting strategies into place to manage that risk, as well as some of their responses to specific events."

"There was more that could have been done in terms of risk identification, putting strategies into place to manage that risk, as well as some of their responses to specific events."

A crucial failing was that "on the day of the homicide the team carrying out the assessment did not appear to consider the escalation of risk of harm and were too optimistic that (Terry) would comply."

"If staff had fully understood his history and he risks he posed they may not have so readily accepted an informal agreement with him" - the review

The importance of the principle of past behaviour having an effect of future behaviour hadn't been considered, and that was possibly down to the fact the long history notes hadn't all been read.

As a result of the case, a raft of measures had been put into an action plan by KMPT and the county council.

These include carrying out urgent reviews of patients with long-standing issues when they begin to stop taking their medication; increased involvement of families in assessments, and domestic violence to always be considered when it has taken place in the past.

The review panel highlighted five recommendations, which included better communication between agencies and improving the assessment process under the Mental Health Act.

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