CANCER-STRICKEN killer William Wilson - who was allowed home to his York family less than six years after being jailed for life - has died.

Wilson, who stabbed his second wife, Mary, to death in 1991, was released from prison by Home Secretary, Jack Straw, last September on compassionate grounds.

The Minister decided Wilson, terminally ill with lung cancer, should be allowed to spend his final days with the York children from his first marriage.

But the decision was bitterly attacked by Elaine Bruce, a daughter of his victim, who said: "My mother was not allowed to die at home with her family."

She was angry last month when he was still alive, saying she had been led to believe he would only survive for a few weeks after leaving jail.

And now her anger has deepened further because she heard first on the grapevine that he had died last Tuesday. She had still not been officially informed by yesterday morning, even though York Probation Service had promised to tell her when he died.

"It isn't right. The system has failed me," she said.

Probation service spokesman Peter Hart said it was only informed yesterday morning of Mr Wilson's death by his family, who were still very upset by what had happened. The service had then acted promptly to inform relatives of his victim.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed that Mr Wilson had died in hospital last Tuesday. A member of Mr Wilson's family in York said she did not want to make any comment.

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