Derbyshire killer 'failed' by mental health service

A trust has been set up in memory of Halimah Ahmed

A mentally ill man who killed a student was not properly assessed or cared for, a report said.

Khalid Peshawan, 33, killed Halimah Ahmed at his Derby home in November 2007 before hanging himself.

The Health and Social Care Advisory Service report into Derbyshire Mental Health Services criticised its diagnosis, care and clinical practice.

Ms Ahmed's family said the report did not adequately reflect the failings which had been identified.

The report said there was no direct link between Mr Peshawan's care and treatment and the deaths of him and Ms Ahmed.

'It's all spin'

But it said his condition was not properly diagnosed and he was not adequately cared for.

Ms Ahmed's mother said she was unhappy with the timing of the report being released on the same day as two more relating to the treatment of people involved in other deaths in the East Midlands.

Zareen Roohi Ahmed said: "It's all spin, from the start to finish of this person's (Mr Peshawar) treatment they didn't do anything right.

East Midlands Strategic Health Authority spokeswoman Catherine Elcoat said: "There has been three (reports) today that we have chosen to report on the same day because they came together at a similar time."

A report into the care of a mentally ill women who was killed in a flat at Earl Shilton in Leicestershire in January 2006 found better communication was needed between medical staff and the family.

Joanne Butler was killed at the flat in Maughan Street and Sean Wilson, 37, who lived in the flat below her, was jailed for her killing.

An inquiry into the care and treatment of mental health patient Kelvin Trenfield, 31, of Leicester, who stabbed neighbour Karen Godden, 50, in the head with a chisel in August 2007 found no course of treatment could have prevented the killing.

But the inquiry found there should have been better communication with Ms Godden's family following the death.