Inquiry call on killer babysitter

Six-year-old James Brennan was stabbed 73 times

An MP has called for an investigation into whether a babysitter who stabbed a six-year-old boy to death received adequate mental health care.

Anthony Barnwell, 25, claimed he was acting on telepathic messages from TV show Stargate SG1 when he killed James Brennan at his home in Manchester.

Barnwell, a paranoid schizophrenic, was sent to a secure mental hospital by a judge at Manchester Crown Court.

John Leech, the Liberal Democrat MP for Withington, wants an inquiry.

Barnwell stabbed James 73 times in the bedroom of his home in Terrington Close, Chorlton in September last year.

He was sentenced for the killing on Wednesday.

Manchester Crown Court heard the 25-year-old had been watching the science fiction programme and believed he had received messages telling him that James was Judas Iscariot and to "take him out".

It may well be that this is one of those cases that just completely slips through the net John Leech, MP

He stabbed him repeatedly with a bread knife the next morning after staying up all night.

On Thursday, John Leech said his thoughts were with the family of James Brennan.

He said he had written to the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust after the verdict to ask for a full investigation.

"I want to avoid pointing the finger of blame at any agency," he said.

"It may well be that this is one of those cases that just completely slips through the net and unfortunately it is one of those terrible tragedies.

Social Services said it had no involvement with James at the time

"Given the circumstances you would have thought that somebody would have come to the conclusion that this person needed serious help.

"I presume given the seriousness of the case they will have a look at what has and hasn't been done."

The Manchester Health and Social Care Trust has yet to comment.

Manchester Social Services said there was no social work involvement with the family at the time of James' death, although there had been previously.

"As a result of the seriousness of this incident, a Serious Case Review has been carried out. The conclusion reached was that it was likely that no-one could have predicted these terrible events," a spokesperson said.

"A number of recommendations for further action have been made in respect of all the agencies who had involvement with James and his family.

"Many of these have already been implemented and any remaining actions are currently being taken forward."