POLICE in Canada are to review the case of a Blackburn woman who died nearly 23 years after she was brutally assaulted by her boyfriend.

Gillian Porter was attacked in 1980 by her Canadian fiance Raymond Jules and suffered severe head injuries which left her in a permanent vegetative state.

She died last December after contracting pneumonia which doctors believe was as as a result of the neurological damage she sustained in the attack.

A report by the Criminal Injuries Board of Ontario, written in 1984, revealed that after the attack in Toronto, Jules had been sentenced to just three months in prison and 18 months' probation.

But at an inquest into Gillian's death Blackburn coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of "unlawful killing" after being told Jules attacked her after hearing "voices in his head."

And he said he would be reporting the facts to Lancashire Police so the information could be forwarded on to the Canadian authorities.

Mr Singleton said: "I want the Canadian police to be aware of the findings then they can consider whether they have the powers to act or consider it in the public interest to do so."

After the hearing, Andrew Church-Taylor, a partner and specialist in criminal law at Farley's Solicitors, Blackburn, but who is unconnected to the case, said: "I wouldn't rule out the possibility that further legal action could be taken against Raymond Jules.

"But there are issues such as the fact he has already been convicted of an offence arising from the circumstances which led to the injury, the question of whether it is in the public interest to bring a prosecution for murder or manslaughter given the lapse of time and the mental health issues."

Gillian's mum, Edith, of Livesey, said she remembers her daughter as a "vibrant and active" young woman.

She said: "The last few years have been a difficult time but we have had a lot of support.

"We weren't happy with the original sentence that Jules was given but he was deemed to be clinically ill.

"But we are a long way down the line and we hadn't even thought it was possible for any more legal proceedings this far along.

"It is all hypothetical anyway because we have no idea where Jules is. He could be dead or institutionalised."

The CIB report said that the attack took place at 9.30pm one night in February 1980.

It said: "He suddenly went berserk and assaulted the victim. The resultant head injuries were catastrophic and doctors did not expect her to survive."

Mrs Porter revealed how Gillian, then 21, had fallen in love with Jules, who had been working in the UK and followed him back to Canada where they planned to marry.

She said: "Afterwards he was diagnosed as schizophrenic and it seems he just flipped."

Mrs Porter, who has two sons, Randolph and Ralph, also told the inquest how she and her late husband, Derek, brought Gillian back to Blackburn and cared for her at home, despite massive head injuries which left her totally physically dependant.

Mrs Porter said the initial prognosis had been that Gillian, a former pupil at Witton Park School, Blackburn, would only live for three to five years.

"She lived at home for most of the time until a few months before she died when she went into a nursing home," said Mrs Porter.

Pathologist Timothy Dawson, who carried out a post mortem examination, described massive head injuries which caused a blood clot on the brain.

He said the fact that Gillian had survived so long was testament to the excellent care she had received from her family.

Mr Singleton said he had great admiration for Mrs Porter's efforts and said there was a clear link between the assault and Gillian's death.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police, said: "We are awaiting communication from the coroner and will decide what action to take."