James Roberts was accused of killing his stepson, Leon Jayet-Cole, in Christchurch in 2015. Police investigations into violent incidents linked to an allegedly murderous stepfather were in hindsight "insufficient", a detective says. His stepfather James Roberts was charged with his murder and died in June 2016, awaiting trial. Supplied Drug use was common in the home of Emma Roberts (nee Jayet) and James Roberts, Leon's mother and stepfather. Only a few weeks before Leon's death, Roberts threatened a neighbour with a knife over a dog dispute and police were called to the street three times in one day.

Source: Stuff November 04, 2019 06:33 UTC