Police reveal killer knifed Christina in silent two second attack (From Halesowen News)

Police reveal killer knifed Christina in silent two second attack

3:50pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News

THE KILLER of Halesowen schoolgirl Christina Edkins did not speak to her once before stabbing her once in the chest, police have revealed.

The tragic incident took less than two seconds to happen and then the offender strolled downstairs and “casually” got off the bus.

Police believe he continued to use the transport network to dump the murder weapon, which has yet to be found.

In a packed press conference at West Midlands Police headquarters in Birmingham today Detective Superintendent Richard Baker spoke about the tragic incident.

DS Baker said: “The family are absolutely devastated about what has happened, you can look at the picture, Christina is a beautiful young girl and this attack seems to be senseless and totally random.

“There was absolutely no conversation between Christina and the offender at all, he was behind her and the attack took place when he walked past her.”

“We know he was on the bus when Christina boarded.

“There is absolutely nothing to suggest Christina was deliberately targeted, it appears to be a totally random attack.”

“There were three people on the top deck at the time of the incident, the offender, Christina and another male and we have spoken to that other male.”

He added: “The bus was in the process of stopping when the attack took place we then know immediately after the attack which took a second or two to occur, he walked down the stairs waited for the bus to stop and causally walked off.”

DS Baker appealed to the public for the movements of the killer after the attack yesterday morning.

He added: “We strongly believe the male got off the bus and continued to use the bus network to continue travelling for several hours after.

“We know at the time of the tragic event yesterday 16 people were on the bus we have identified and spoke to eight of those individuals.

“It is quite possible that the people on the bus are not aware what happened though some screaming was heard initially people thought it might have been teenagers messing around.”

A 22-year-old was arrested yesterday on suspicion of murdering Christina and the police have until 1pm on Saturday to either to charge or release the man.

16-year-old Christina was on her way to Leasowes High School in Halesowen at the time of the attack, at 7.37am on Thursday morning, on the number nine bus on the Hagley Road in Birmingham.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw a black male in his 20s wearing a jacket with a tiger on the back of it before or after the killing to urgently ring 0800 0960095.