Stabbing suspect left mental unit just an hour before knife rampage

A woman who allegedly stabbed a complete stranger to death left a mental health unit just over one hour earlier, it was revealed today.

The 31-year-old was admitted into Oxleas House in Woolwich before leaving while staff were preparing a bed and medication for her.

They followed her but were unable to reach her before she got into a taxi and left the site.
The patient was referred to the unit after walking into the neighbouring A&E department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital at 5am yesterday, trying
to get herself sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

She was arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly knifing Sally Hodkin, 59, in a random attack in front of shoppers in Bexleyheath,
90 minutes after leaving the unit.

She had been under the care of Oxleas since 2006.
A spokesman for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust said: "At Oxleas House she was promptly assessed. A bed was available and medication was being prepared before admitting her to a ward on a voluntary basis.

"At 7am she unexpectedly left the assessment suite and was pursued by staff. Up to this point she had not given any indication she intended to leave and had agreed to admission. She was seen getting in to a taxi and left the site. Staff took the number of the taxi and subsequently notified the police." An NHS inquiry into the case is under way.

Mrs Hodkin was pronounced dead at the scene in the Broadway. The grandmother, an accounts manager for Cunningham Blake solicitors in Blackheath, was stabbed in the neck moments after a 23-year-old woman was injured in a knife attack.

The attacker scuffled with her first victim after buying a knife from an Asda store. She was disarmed, but ran off and stole a steak knife from the British Meat Market butcher's shop before threatening to stab a staff member and attacking Mrs Hodkin.

Witnesses said the woman then ran into a tile shop. After entering Rovic Tiles, she told manager Ryan Higgins she was "supposed to have been sectioned last night" and "wanted her medicine". Mr Higgins, 32, said: "She came through the front door and said: 'I've hurt somebody. I think I've killed them', and that I needed to call the police.

"As I dialled 999 I reached for the first aid kit from the back door because she had deep cuts on her fingers of her left hand and there was a lot of blood. Then she walked out to the parking lot where the cops were waiting for her.

"She was shocked and really quite upset. She was really panicky and started crying when she got outside. I could hear her saying to the officers, 'I did it, I did it'."

Nicola Edgington, 31, of Greenwich, has been charged with murder and attempted murder. She was judged unfit to attend Greenwich magistrates court this morning.

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