WELSH assembly members expressed their sorrow today at the brutal murder of Cerys Yemm, asking questions about whether it could have been prevented.

The 22-year-old was killed last week at the Sirhowy Arms hotel in Argoed by Matthew Williams, 34, who was tasered by police and later died.

He is said to have been suffering from schizophrenia after his release from prison but was not taking medication.

First minister for Wales Carwyn Jones expressed his “horror at the events as they have been described”.

He faced questions from AMs about whether Williams should have been given more supervision after he left prison.

The Ministry of Justice has launched an immediate investigation into why he committed such a crime within 30 days of release from prison.

Mr Jones said: “I think there needs to be a full investigation of the case before we can make a judgement on it. If there are ways in which we can provide improvements in what can be referred to as a handover (on release from prison), then clearly we will look at that, and of course if there are ways of of ensuring that people have a fuller assessment before they leave prison, that will need to be looked at as well.”

Jocelyn Davies, AM for South Wales East, said: “The media headlines around this murder have been incredibly insensitive and I can tell you the community is very angry about some of those headlines. This is the loss to all of us really of Cerys Yemm and she mustn’t be forgotten and overshadowed by those awful headlines.”

She added: “No review, no investigation, no inquiry will bring that girl back to her family. How will the Welsh Government work with mental health services to ensure in this situation that families who are concerned about the mental health of someone have somewhere to turn to?”

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said. “Regrettably, once that offender stepped outside the prison environment and into the community, that’s where the treatment seems to have fallen down. Many people are looking for answers.”

Lindsay Whittle, AM for South Wales East, said before the discussion in the Senedd: “The problem is if no-one has responsibility they can all blame each other. We’ve heard this so often in the past when something like 15 or 16 authorities involved in particular with young children in care.

Mr Whittle added: “There needs to be coordination between the prison and the health authorities - they’ve got to share the information. People worrying they can’t tell you this because of data protection - to hell with data protection. It’s the protection of Joe Public is the most important.

Gwyn Price, AM for Islwyn, said: “I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cerys Yemm. The community is in shock and local residents are struggling to come to terms with a senseless act of violence.”

After an urgent question from William Graham, AM for South Wales East, health minister Mark Drakeford said: “This was a rare and tragic incident. A serious case review has been instigated by the Ministry of Justice and devolved services will cooperate fully with it.

“We will of course look carefully at any lessons to be learnt from the review that fall to devolved services.”

He added: “I’m very happy to write to the family reflecting the views that members generally have expressed. I don’t think its right for me to say anything about the particular circumstances of the individuals involved.”