Eclipse killing 'could have been avoided'

Kevin Hewitt blamed an eclipse for the attack

Brutal attacks by a psychiatric patient who was allowed back into the community could have been avoided, an inquiry has concluded.

Kevin Hewitt stabbed a 12-year-old boy and his father and beat a pensioner to death in Leicester on the day of a solar eclipse.

Hewitt was sent to Rampton Special Hospital for an unlimited time after admitting manslaughter and attempted murder.

He told clinical staff that because of the eclipse, he felt the world was coming to an end and went out intending to kill others before they got to him.

An independent inquiry into the case by a panel of experts has criticised his care by health professionals.

We believe that with more assertive critical management, Kevin Hewitt's eventual relapse could probably have been avoided

Inquiry report

The report said there was a "critical lapse" in the management of Hewitt's care between March and July 1999.

It also highlighted a breakdown in communication between Kevin Hewitt and his GP.

At the time of the attack Hewitt was living in Leicester as a mental health outpatient.

He had been discharged from a secure unit in December 1998 and almost immediately stopped taking his medication.

On 6 August 1999, he was seen by a GP who concluded he was exhibiting "active psychotic symptoms".

Eclipse attack

A week later, on the day of the eclipse, Hewitt took a knife with him to East Park Road in Leicester.

He stabbed 12-year-old Daniel Geeson in the neck before turning the knife on the boy's father, Brian.

Hewitt then attacked William Marchant, 72, who was walking by, knocking him to the ground and beating him to death.

There were aspects of Kevin Hewitt's care that fell below the high standards that we continually work to achieve and for this we offer a full apology

Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust

The report recommends a review of procedures used in the supervision of patients and better communication between health care professionals.

It states: "We do however believe that with more assertive critical management, Kevin Hewitt's eventual relapse could probably have been avoided."

The report also calls for more support for the victims of serious incidents of this kind.

'Lessons learned'

The Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust said it welcomed the report and accepted its findings.

Chief executive Martin Taylor said in a statement: "I offer my sincere sympathy on behalf of the trust to Mr Marchant's family, Mr Geeson, his son and other members of their family and to members of the Hewitt family.

"Clearly, there were aspects of Kevin Hewitt's care that fell below the high standards that we continually work to achieve and for this we offer a full apology.

"We are in no way complacent, but we can provide an assurance to the families concerned and the wider public that every lesson that can be learnt has been identified and acted upon."