The frustrated father of Emily Jones has compared the inquest process to 'Groundhog Day' after his wait to discover more about the death of his daughter continues.

Emily, a pupil at Markland Hill Primary School, died on March 22, 2020, after paranoid schizophrenic Eltiona Skana stabbed her in the neck in Queens Park.

On December 8, 2020, Skana received a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months to be served at a high-security psychiatric hospital. Earlier, she was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but was cleared of murder.

However, around a year later, senior coroner Timothy Brennand said there was still cause for an investigation into the death, in particular into the involvement of Skana with mental health services, saying there was a gap between the Crown Court process and the coronial process.

On Monday, a little over three years to the day since the events of March 22, 2020, frustrated father Mark Jones appeared at the latest in a line of hearings, where representatives for the family, GMP and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust went over issues such as the use of up to 46 witnesses.

Mr Brennand revealed Mr Jones wrote to the court in advance of this appearance out of concern over the wait for an inquest into the death of his daughter.

The Bolton News: Mark Jones

Mr Jones said: "I find the process frustrating. 

"The deadlines are set and they're never adhered to. It's like Groundhog Day."

His solicitor Sefton Kwasnik said: "[Mr Jones] has a sense he's done everything he can to assist everyone and he's now weeks away from undertaking an inquest when it's still not together. 

"There's still a concern the family may be rushed into having to prepare for this important event in their journey beyond the most tragic event imaginable. That's my take on his perspective.

Mr Brennand responded: "I'm sorry you saw fit to communicate with us in those terms.

"Your experience is your experience and I'm not going to in any way quibble with it."

He added: "All interested persons are striving to assist the coronial process.

"I feel I needed to say something. I didn't want to sweep anything you've said to me under the carpet."

The inquest is scheduled for around a week in May.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.