A mum-of-two murdered by her controlling ex in south London had been ‘ping ponged’ between police forces which each claimed the other was responsible for her case, an inquest heard.

Hospital secretary Emma Day, 33, was knifed five times by Mark Morris as she walked home from school with her daughter in West Norwood in May 2017, following a row over child maintenance payments.

Morris pleaded guilty to the West Norwood murder and was jailed for life in December that year.

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An inquest yesterday heard from Sharon Erdman, director of operations for domestic abuse charity Refuge which runs The Gaia Centre in south London.

The family’s barrister Maya Sikand QC suggested cops were not clear on which area of the force would handle the case.

She said: “We know that Emma had initially gone to Croydon (Police) and what you may not know is the ping ponging between Croydon and Lambeth (Police) in who was responsible for investigating the offence.”

The court also heard Gaia staff had contacted police 10 times for an update on the course of the domestic violence allegation made against Morris before they heard back.

When asked if she could say whether it was “unusual” for staff to have to make “constant attempts” to get information from police she responded “I can’t comment.”

The inquest heard how police did not pursue a criminal case against Morris because records showed Miss Day told an officer she felt safe after a non-molestation order was made - limiting Morris’ contact with her and their child.

Frances McClenaghan, representing the Metropolitan Police said: “That informed her decision about not assisting the prosecution. She felt safer.”

The court heard how The Gaia Centre provided some free legal advice, but there was no provision for the mum, who struggled with debt, to fund another application to renew the protection order.

The inquest was also told that, despite being a single mum-of-two with no financial support from the father, she did not qualify for legal aid in renewing the order.

Ms Sikland QC, questioning Ms Erdman, said: "Of course, legal aid is dependant on your earnings and income and you won’t get legal aid for a non-molestation order if your income is over a certain threshold.

“And what you may not know, and just to be clear, is that Ms Day tried to look into legal aid but was told she wouldn’t qualify.”

READ MORE: Mum murdered on south London street thought police were 'powerless' to stop ex

The court heard an earlier social services investigation did not uncover the full extent of the domestic violence and concluded Ms Day had taken the right action over an allegation by Morris that her son had abused their daughter.

Interviews revealed there was “nothing to it” but staff now say the probe was a “missed opportunity” to intervene and offer Morris access to services which may have prevented his abusive behaviour.

Naeema Sarkar, Director of children’s social care quality assurance at Lambeth Council, said: “The conclusion of that was that it was very much focused on family functioning and the impact of parental separation rather than domestic violence and it was found that children's needs were met and mother had taken appropriate steps in terms of an non-molestation order to protect her children.

“But now following the domestic homicide review, it wasn’t as comprehensive as it should have been.

“We should have sought permission from Emma day to contact Gaia because, had we done that, the extent of domestic violence within the family, psychological abuse and physical as well as coercive control would have become evidence to us.”

The inquest continues.