Colette Lynch was murdered by her ex-partner Percy Wright

Pc Charlotte Hall and Pc Theresa Cottingham did not arrest Percy Wright for criminal damage after an incident at Colette Lynch's home in 2005.

Ms Lynch, 24, was stabbed to death two days later by Wright at her home in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Pc Cottingham, 38, denied the accusation. Pc Hall, 30, admitted it.

Miss Lynch's relatives walked out of the hearing when it was announced how much the officers would be fined.

Even on their own account the officers failed to do the most basic of tasks ACC David Compton Murders 'could be prevented'

Speaking afterwards her mother, Helen Lynch, said it was an outrage and an insult to her daughter - a mother of three.

"They (Hall and Cottingham) should have both been sacked, they are incompetent."

She added: "In February 2005, Percy Wright, threatened, calculated and carried out the slaughter of our beautiful, beloved daughter Colette while Rugby police, among other agencies, turned their backs."

'Extrmely irresponsible'

Miss Lynch's younger sister, Patricia, said the police were failing to recognise the gravity of the offences.

"It is sending out an extremely irresponsible message to other officers out there in how to deal with such a situation."

The family now plan a civil claim for damages on behalf of Miss Lynch's three young children against Warwickshire Police.

The two constables were ruled to have breached the police code of conduct by failing to perform their duties "conscientiously and diligently" when they were called to Miss Lynch's home in February.

The five-day hearing, in Rugby, was the first police disciplinary hearing to be heard in public.

The street in Rugby where Colette Lynch lived and was murdered

During the hearing the panel heard Miss Lynch was stabbed two days after she reported an incident in which Wright had come to her home, smashed the front room window and threatened to cut her throat.

The inquiry was told the two "blinkered" officers failed to treat the incident as domestic violence and did not arrest Wright at the time.

Assistant Chief Constable David Compton of West Yorkshire Police, who headed the panel, said: "Even on their own account the officers failed to do the most basic of tasks.

"It is apparent that the officers treated this as a criminal damage offence on arrival and did not sufficiently consider other offences or the risk of further offences.

"They took too narrow a view of the incident."

'Not responsible'

He said the initial questioning of Miss Lynch and witnesses were inadequate and failed to establish full facts.

He made it clear that at no time had it ever been suggested the officers were responsible for Miss Lynch's death.

He added, when deciding their sanctions, he had taken into account the fact Pc Hall had admitted misconduct but added that as the more senior officer she bore a higher share of the blame.

He said Pc Cottingham, who denied misconduct, had caused "concern about her insight into her actions."

Wright, 35, was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and made subject to a hospital order in August 2005.