Anti-knife crime march abandoned to respect Christina's parents plea for calm (From Halesowen News)

Anti-knife crime march abandoned to respect Christina's parents plea for calm

3:55pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

A PROTEST march against knife crime planned to take place in Birmingham on Saturday following the murder of Halesowen schoolgirl Christina Edkins has been cancelled.

Organisers took the decision after the 16-year-old’s parents urged for calm.

The planned protest had been publicised on the RIP Facebook page set up in memory of the Leasowes High School year 11 pupil, who was fatally stabbed on her way to school on a bus on Hagley Road, Birmingham, a week ago.

Her parents Jason and Kathleen Edkins, from Ladywood, said: "We've heard talk of protests in Christina's name, clamouring for swift justice.

“But as a family we'd urge people to remain calm, be patient and let the legal process take its course."

Protest leader Jon Kelley announced on Facebook that the Justice for Christina Protest, planned for 1pm in the city centre, had been cancelled.

He posted: “The family have said they don’t want us to protest so we need to respect their decision."

Instead, a charity three mile run will be staged at Leasowes Park, Halesowen, on Sunday April 7 in her memory, which Mr Kelley said would be “something constructive”.

Participants can “run, walk, crawl, anything” and, with 67 people signed up so far, the aim is to raise enough money to buy a memorial bench for Christina to be located in Birmingham.

The RIP Facebook page has attracted more than 65,000 “likes” so far.

Meanwhile, an inquest into Christina's death was opened at Birmingham Coroner's Court and adjourned pending further inquiries.

Mr Edkins confirmed his daughter's name, date of birth, address and funeral arrangements.