Mrs Pemberton had long been a victim of domestic abuse

Frank Mullane, from Swindon, Wiltshire, believes the major probe into the 2003 murders of Julia Pemberton and her son, William, will not be broad enough.

They were killed by Alan Pemberton at their home in Hermitage, Berkshire.

A date for the High Court hearing that will look at the terms of the homicide review has now been set for 24 July.

We will not sign up to a waste of time Frank Mullane

Mr Mullane wants the terms of the proposed review - the first of its kind in the country - to be wider under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to have life protected by law.

The review could shape how investigations into similar tragedies will be carried out in the future under the new Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act - which introduces homicide reviews in domestic violence cases.

Mr Mullane said: "In a nutshell we hope this homicide review will be configured so that it will do something to prevent these murders. We will not sign up to a waste of time."

The homicide review into the case was established after Mr Mullane met Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland last year.

The proposed inquiry into the case will be conducted by the West Berkshire Safer Communities Partnership - an organisation comprised of local agencies including the police, the health service and the council.

The partnership has denied it has a duty to hold a probe under Article 2 into whether failings by the police or any other agents of the state may have contributed to the two deaths.