The widow of murdered headteacher Philip Lawrence said today she was “devastated” to learn her husband’s killer could not be deported and felt she could not “survive” the ruling.

Learco Chindamo, currently serving life, has won his appeal at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to stay in Britain, however, the government said tonight that it would appeal against the decision.

Italian-born Chindamo was 15 years old when he stabbed Mr Lawrence to death in an attack outside St George’s Roman Catholic School in Maida Vale, west London, in December 1995. Mr Lawrence had been protecting a pupil.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Mr Lawrence’s widow, Frances, said: “I am devastated, demoralised. More than that, I’m unutterably depressed that the Human Rights Act has failed to encompass the rights of my family to lead a safe, secure and happy life.

“I feel that I have always been a staunch advocate of the Human Rights Act but there is a missing term in it. It must encompass some responsibility.

“This isn’t just about me and my family. I am not solely thinking of me. I may be a mother but I am a human being as well. I feel I can’t fight any more. I feel I can’t survive this.”

The Government said today it was “disappointed” that it could not deport the killer. A Home Office spokesman said: “We believe that foreign prisoners who have committed serious crimes should face automatic deportation from the UK at the end of their sentence.

“We are disappointed that the courts have not upheld our decision to pursue deportation in this case.”

Lawyers for Italian-born Chindamo, now 26, had argued that deporting him to his home country would breach his human rights.

They said that he no longer had strong links or family ties with Italy because he has been living in Britain since he was five years old.

The Home Office had argued in the central London tribunal that deporting Chindamo, whose father is Italian and mother is Filipino, was conducive to the public good and was not disproportionate.

Mr Lawrence, 48, was attacked when a gang of 12 youths led by Chindamo went to attack a boy who had quarrelled with a pupil of Filipino origin.

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