post-mortem examination into the death of law firm accounts manager Sally Hodkin in south east London confirmed she died after suffering knife wounds to her neck. The victim was believed to be on her way to work on Monday morning when she was attacked in a busy shopping street in Bexleyheath, south east London. On Tuesday, a woman accused of her murder was due to appear in court but was unable to because of "extreme" mental health problems. Unemployed Nicola Edgington, 31, of Ambedkar House, Flavell Mews, Greenwich, south east London, was also charged with the attempted murder of 23-year-old Kerry Clark, who was attacked with a knife as she waited at a bus stop. On Tuesday, a psychiatrist said Edgington was unfit to be taken into the courtroom to face charges. Addressing Greenwich Magistrates' Court, Dr Amit Chatterjee said: "I had the opportunity to meet her this morning. She does have extreme mental health problems. I don't think she is fit to attend court in her mental state." Mrs Hodkin, 58, was understood to have been on her way to work at law firm Cunningham Blake when she was attacked. She was believed to have lived locally and was pronounced dead at 8.41am. There was no answer at Cunningham Blake on Monday night but a voice message said the office was closed due to a bereavement and would reopen on Tuesday. Edgington, who was represented by her solicitor, Callum Haddow, was told her case will be heard next at the Old Bailey on Thursday when a bail application is due to take place. A plea and case management hearing was scheduled for January 17. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services in a number of south east London boroughs, said Edgington had unexpectedly left an assessment suite while a bed was being prepared for her at 7am on Monday.
0 comments:
Post a Comment