THE circumstances surrounding the death of Simon Everitt who was murdered after being doused in petrol and set alight is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

THE circumstances surrounding the death of Simon Everitt who was murdered after being doused in petrol and set alight has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Simon's murderers were convicted last week of killing the 17-year-old Yarmouth College engineering student in June last year.

A love triangle led to Jimi-Lee Stewart, 25, Maria Chandler, 40, both from Yarmouth and Jonathan Clarke, 20, from Telford in Shropshire, killing the teenager.

But his parents are angry that action was not taken earlier against his murderers who they claim had harassed and attacked their son in the weeks before they finally killed him at in woodland at Mautby.

Following the allegations, Norfolk Constabulary has referred the complaints to Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Susan Lewis, partner of Simon's father Vince Everitt, said: “The fact is that Simon had been harassed by Jonathan Clarke for the best part of nine months prior to his murder, and there were various calls to the police about this.

“We can't say for definite it would have made a difference. But maybe if Simon had been listened to when he asked for help, things may have been different.”

Det Chief Supt Julian Blazeby said: “Simon's family have made serious allegations about police.

“We feel that the interests of the public are now best served by voluntarily referring the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”

At the time of his death Simon was living in a bedsit in Yarmouth seafront.

The jury at the murder trial heard how Clarke has watched a horror film called Severance showing a woman being tied to a tree with petrol poured on her and then set alight. Simon was killed in the same way.

Sentencing will take place on June 26 at Norwich Crown Court.