Phillip Simelane pleaded guilty Wednesday to fatally stabbing Christina Edkins, 16, on her way to school in March. Simelane was sitting behind her on a double-decker bus in Halesowen, west of Birmingham, England. He stabbed her in the chest on his way off the bus, apparently a random act of violence.
He was reportedly mentally unstable at the time, having recently threatened his mother with a knife, reports the BBC.
He had been released from prison recently on minor charges, including possession of cocaine. Because the charges were minor, there were no regulations in place that said he had to be monitored.
Simelane was homeless at the time of the stabbing.
Edkins died on scene of a single stab wound.
An investigation is underway to see if the justice system failed to stop the crime based on indications while Simelane was in prison that he was violent and unstable.
Local Member of Parliament James Morris said Wednesday, according to the Independent: “The whole community was shocked at Christina’s brutal murder earlier this year ... and I hope that her family and friends will be able to draw some small comfort from her murderer being brought to justice.”
He added that: “Serious questions must be asked about why warnings and recommendations regarding Phillip Simelane seem to have been ignored, with horrific consequences.”
