Baby P inquest ruled out by coroner

The 17-month-old, now named as Peter Connelly, died at the hands of his mother Tracey, her sadistic boyfriend Steven Barker and Barker's brother Jason Owen in August 2007.

All three were subsequently jailed for causing or allowing his death.

Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police at his home in Tottenham, north London, over an eight-month period.

North London Coroner Andrew Walker said he believed questions about the circumstances of the toddler's death had already been answered in previous investigations by state agencies.

He said there was therefore insufficient cause for him to hold an inquest.

Last month the coroner heard submissions from lawyers including those representing Baby P's father, the Metropolitan Police and Barker in a pre-inquest hearing.

It was argued that an inquest would be expensive and that all salient facts had already emerged. But Peter's father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was said to be keen for an inquest to take place