Heartbroken Eddie Prout is preparing to scatter his murdered brother's ashes at the place he loved most.
It has now been more than six years since Jimmy Prout was killed in one of the most violent and cruel crimes our region has seen.
But the vulnerable victim's brother has still not felt able to say his final goodbyes as he await answers over his brother's murder.
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In the run-up to his death Jimmy was subjected to a campaign of sick abuse while being held captive at the home of evil killer Zahid Zaman.
Zaman and his accomplice Ann Corbett, who had been in a relationship with Jimmy, are now serving life sentences for the torture slaying.
Eddie is now eagerly awaiting the publication of a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) that will examine the circumstances surrounding the horrific murder, and explore whether anything could have been done to prevent it.
And today he told the Chronicle how he plans to scatter Jimmy's ashes at North Shields Fish Quay after the report has been made public.
Eddie said: "I have still got his ashes. After this is all over and done with I'm going to lay him to rest. He always loved going to North Shields, that's where he spent most of his time, down the Fish Quay. He loved watching the fishing boats come in.
"But I can't lay him to rest until I find out exactly what happened to him."
Jimmy, who suffered from learning difficulties, was subjected to grotesque violence in the run-up to his death at Zaman's house on St Stephen's Way, in Percy Main, North Tyneside.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Zaman inflicted unbelievable cruelty on Jimmy, from Scotswood in Newcastle.
The killer cut out one of the 43-year-old's testicles and forced him to eat it, knocked his teeth out with a hammer and chisel and forced him to have to sex with a dog.
Jimmy died on February 9, 2016, and his body was discovered more than a month later after it was dumped on wasteland near the Tyne Tunnel.
The court heard how disabled Zaman was the leader of a cult-like group of women, which included Corbett, Kay Rayworthand Myra Wood.
Zaman and Corbett attacked Jimmy, while Rayworth and Wood stood by and did nothing to help.
After a trial in 2017 serial liar Zaman, then 43, was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years behind bars. Corbett, then 26, was also found guilty of murder and given a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years.
Rayworth, 56, and 50-year-old Wood, were cleared of the killing but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and perverting the course of justice. Both were jailed for 12 years.
Eddie has always believed chances to prevent his brother's murder were missed.
And despite seeing the killers jailed the 58-year-old believes he has still not got justice for Jimmy.
Eddie hopes the DHR, which is due to be published before the end of this year will give him some closure.
"Even though Zaman is in jail I don't feel like Jimmy has got justice yet, and I can't lay him to rest until he has," he added.
DHRs are carried out whenever someone aged 16 or over dies as the result of the actions of a partner or family member.
These multi-agency reviews aim to establish what lessons can be learned from these tragedies in a bid to prevent future deaths and improve safeguarding.
North Tyneside Council is the lead agency on the DHR into Jimmy’s death.
Eddie has seen a draft copy of the report but it now needs to be signed-off by the Home Office before it can be published.
Wendy Burke, director of public health at North Tyneside Council and spokesperson for Safer North Tyneside partnership, said: "Our deepest condolences are with the family of Jimmy Prout and I hope they can find the closure they seek following his death.
“The report is currently sitting with the Home Office’s Quality Assurance Panel, as part of the recognised process for Domestic Homicide Reviews. We will continue to keep the family informed of the progress as the Home Office consider the draft report for publication.”
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