The man who will conduct the inquiry into the case of convicted double killer and necrophiliac David Fuller said he would put the families of the victims "at the heart" of the process.

Fuller sexually assaulted and murdered Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, both from Tunbridge Wells, back in 1987 – the so-called bedsit murders.

When the police finally caught up with him in December 2020, a search of his home revealed evidence that he had also committed more than 100 sexual offences over a period of more than 12 years on corpses in the mortuary at the Kent and Sussex Hospital and later at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, while working as an electrician for the hospital trust.

Fuller of Heathfield, East Sussex, was convicted in November and is now serving a life sentence.

Sir Jonathan Michael was appointed by the Health Secretary Sajid Javid to lead an inquiry into how Fuller could have been able to perpetrate such offensive crimes and for such a long period without discovery, and whether there were safety implications for mortuaries at other hospitals across the country.

In a statement, Sir Jonathan said: "No one reading of David Fuller’s acts and the fact that they happened in an NHS Trust’s mortuary can fail to be horrified and distressed by them.

"Understanding how these offences took place in hospital settings without detection over such a long period of time, will require a focused and detailed approach."

He said: "I am determined that my team and I will be objective and thorough in all our work."

He said: "I am equally determined that we will provide an opportunity for those families and staff who have been directly affected by the actions of David Fuller to share their experiences and information with the inquiry in ways that are sensitive and supportive.

"This will be at the heart of how we approach the inquiry."

The inquiry will be in two parts. The first will focus on Fuller’s specific crimes in the Kent and Sussex and the Tunbridge Wells Hospitals.

The second part will be to look at the implications for the country as a whole and make appropriate recommendations "in order to ensure that Fuller’s horrendous activity cannot be repeated elsewhere."

Sir Jonathan has faced criticism from lawyers representing some of the abused mortuary victims, who question how fair and independent he can be.

Sir Jonathan is a former chief executive of three NHS hospital trusts: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; and University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

He is also a former managing director of BT Health.

But a spokesperson for the inquiry said: "The inquiry is independent of the NHS and of the government. Sir Jonathan and his team are determined to be objective and thorough in their work."

Sir Jonathan will be supported by civil servant Rebecca Chaloner, as secretary to the inquiry.

She has previously worked on the inquiries into the crimes by Jimmy Savile at hospitals in Leeds, and the inquiry into child sexual abuse.

Sir Jonathan said: "The task my team and I face is challenging but vitally important.

"We are committed to conducting our work with determination and with sensitivity and compassion for all those so horrendously affected.

"From tomorrow, I will be writing directly to families who have given their consent to be contacted, and to others who are relevant to our inquiry.

"I will be seeking their views on our terms of reference."

Any families affected by the actions of David Fuller and past and present colleagues can get in touch with the inquiry here. www.fuller.independent-inquiry.uk

Alternatively email to contact@fuller.independent-inquiry.uk or phone 0207 9721444.