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Christina Edkins stabbing: Phillip Simelane detained indefinitely Christina Edkins killing: Phillip Simelane detained
(35 minutes later)
A man has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act for killing schoolgirl Christina Edkins on a rush-hour bus in Birmingham city centre. A man who killed 16-year-old Christina Edkins on a rush hour bus in Birmingham has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.
Sixteen-year-old Christina was fatally stabbed on her way to school in March. Phillip Simelane, from Walsall, stabbed the teenager in a random attack as she made her way to school in March.
Phillip Simelane, from Walsall, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing in Birmingham Crown Court. He had been released from prison, unsupervised, three months before the attack - 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. The 23-year-old admitted manslaughter in a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.
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. Mrs Justice Thirlwell, sentencing Simelane, said: "This is likely to be a lifelong order.
Manhunt "It is made for the nature of the offence and necessary to protect the public from serious harm."
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. She also expressed concern that Simelane had not been receiving treatment at the time of the killing.
A post-mortem examination found she died from a single stab wound. Christina was travelling to Leasowes High School in Halesowen on the Number 9 bus when she was attacked. Simelane, who was sitting behind her on the upper deck, stabbed her in the chest as he walked past to get off.
Simelane was arrested just hours after the attack following an extensive manhunt. He was arrested a few hours after the attack following an extensive manhunt.
He had previously been in prison for threatening his own mother with a knife. Simelane 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. Seven days after completing a 101-day prison term for the threats, he was convicted for interfering with a vehicle and possession of cocaine. He was released from jail on 13 December 2012.
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.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. 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 risk, as well as for violence and weapons use.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provided psychiatric assessments for Simelane during his prison term.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.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. In a statement, the trust promised a "thorough investigation", adding "we will seek to learn from and fully implement these findings across the healthcare providers involved".
In a statement the trust said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Christina's family for what was an unprovoked attack on an innocent member of the public. Killer 'abandoned'
"What is clear, is that there are lessons to be learned for us and others involved in the care of Phillip Simelane to prevent such a tragedy happening again in the future. Supt Richard Baker, who led the initial police investigation, said police and prison services were also carrying out reviews to determine what, if anything, could have been done to prevent Christina's death.
"We would not want to speculate on the outcome of this review, but we are clear that this will be an externally reviewed, thorough investigation and we will seek to learn from and fully implement these findings across the healthcare providers involved." In court, Simelane entered his plea in front of more than 30 of Christina's friends and family, many wearing purple ribbons - Christina's favourite colour.
'Hidden knife' Speaking afterwards, Christina's great uncle Chris Melia said: "We have no sense of vengeance or revenge. We just want him out of the way and [to] remember Christina.
Supt Richard Baker, who led the initial police investigation, said other reviews were now taking place by the police and prison service to determine what, if anything, could have been done to prevent Christina's death. "The authorities didn't help him, [they] just let him out of the prison door and let him go, just abandoned him.
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. "If there had been some help and authority he wouldn't have been on the bus."
Christina's great uncle Chris Melia described it as a "totally senseless" crime.
"All the family want now is for him to be in a secure location where he can do no harm," he said.
"We have no sense of vengeance or revenge. We just want him out of the way and remember Christina."
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. He said within seconds of Christina boarding the bus "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 walked 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.
Memorial gardenMemorial garden
"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.
Other passengers on the bus tried to treat and comfort Christina before paramedics arrived within minutes.Other passengers on the bus tried to treat and comfort Christina before paramedics arrived within minutes.
They found she was not breathing and had no pulse. The schoolgirl was pronounced dead shortly before 08:00. She was stabbed at about 07:30 and pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.
"Everybody who could attend did, and everybody who did attend did all they could to assist but sadly without any success," Mr Grieves-Smith said."Everybody who could attend did, and everybody who did attend did all they could to assist but sadly without any success," 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.