This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24358473
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Christina Edkins stabbing: Phillip Simelane admits manslaughter | Christina Edkins stabbing: Phillip Simelane admits manslaughter |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 23-year-old man has admitted killing schoolgirl Christina Edkins on a rush-hour bus in Birmingham city centre. | A 23-year-old man has admitted killing schoolgirl Christina Edkins on a rush-hour bus in Birmingham city centre. |
Sixteen-year-old Christina was fatally stabbed while on her way to school on 7 March. | Sixteen-year-old Christina was fatally stabbed while on her way to school on 7 March. |
Phillip Simelane, from Walsall, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing in Birmingham Crown Court. | Phillip Simelane, from Walsall, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing in Birmingham Crown Court. |
Three months before the attack he had been released from prison unsupervised, despite warning signs over the state of his mental health. | Three months before the attack he had been released from prison unsupervised, despite warning signs over the state of his mental health. |
Christina was travelling to Leasowes High School in Halesowen when unemployed and homeless Simelane stabbed her in what has been described as a random attack. | Christina was travelling to Leasowes High School in Halesowen when unemployed and homeless Simelane stabbed her in what has been described as a random attack. |
Manhunt | Manhunt |
He was sitting behind the teenager on the upper deck of the Number 9 bus and stabbed her in the chest as he walked past to get off. | He was sitting behind the teenager on the upper deck of the Number 9 bus and stabbed her in the chest as he walked past to get off. |
A post-mortem examination found she died from a single stab wound. | A post-mortem examination found she died from a single stab wound. |
Simelane was arrested just hours after the attack following an extensive manhunt. | Simelane was arrested just hours after the attack following an extensive manhunt. |
He had previously been in prison for threatening his own mother with a knife. | He had previously been in prison for threatening his own mother with a knife. |
West Midlands Police said they had been called to his mother's address in Walsall about 20 times. | West Midlands Police said they had been called to his mother's address in Walsall about 20 times. |
Just seven days after completing a 101-day prison term he was convicted for interfering with a vehicle and possession of cocaine, before being released from jail on 13 December 2012. | |
But, according to the police, because the crimes were deemed minor offences there was no policy to monitor Simelane after he left jail. | |
During his time in prison, concerns were raised about his mental health and notes were put on his police file for suicide and self-harming, as well as for violence and weapons use, following the incident with his mother. | |
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provided psychiatric assessments for Simelane during his prison term. | |
It said it was conducting an external review, commissioned by Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group, on behalf of all agencies involved in treating him. | |
The review is expected to report its findings in December. | |
'Hidden knife' | |
Supt Richard Baker, who led the initial police investigation, said other reviews were now taking place to determine what, if anything, could have been done to prevent Christina's death. | |
In court, Simelane, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and blue tie, entered his plea in front of more than 30 of Christina's friends and family, many wearing purple ribbons - Christina's favourite colour. | |
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said CCTV captured Simelane carrying a white plastic bag containing what prosecutors said was a knife, 10 to 12 inches in length. | Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said CCTV captured Simelane carrying a white plastic bag containing what prosecutors said was a knife, 10 to 12 inches in length. |
"Christina Edkins boarded just after 7.30am and went upstairs and sat on her own," he said. | "Christina Edkins boarded just after 7.30am and went upstairs and sat on her own," he said. |
"Within seconds the defendant got up and moved forwards three seats and pulled out the knife, which he then hid." | "Within seconds the defendant got up and moved forwards three seats and pulled out the knife, which he then hid." |
Simelane then got up and walked forward towards where Christina was sitting, "leant closer to her", stabbed her and started to walk off, the court heard. | Simelane then got up and walked forward towards where Christina was sitting, "leant closer to her", stabbed her and started to walk off, the court heard. |
"Such was the nature of the attack, nobody else on the upper deck realised what had happened until Christina reacted," Mr Grieves-Smith said. | "Such was the nature of the attack, nobody else on the upper deck realised what had happened until Christina reacted," Mr Grieves-Smith said. |
Following her death friends gathered by Hagley Road in Birmingham to lay flowers in Christina's memory, while many more were left outside her school's gates. | Following her death friends gathered by Hagley Road in Birmingham to lay flowers in Christina's memory, while many more were left outside her school's gates. |
A memorial garden dedicated to Christina is due to be opened at her former school on Thursday. | A memorial garden dedicated to Christina is due to be opened at her former school on Thursday. |