Mother of killer blames hospital

Tina Stevenson was walking home from an ante-natal class

The mother of a mentally-ill man who stabbed a pregnant woman has criticised the NHS trust that treated him.

Benjamin Holiday, 25, killed mother-of-five Tina Stevenson a day after missing his medication.

His mother Christine blamed the tragedy on the Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust saying he did not receive the correct care and medication.

Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust said there was no indication Holiday posed a serious risk.

An external independent inquiry into the case is taking place.

Ms Holiday said: "If my son had received the correct medication and care during his illness I firmly believe none of the events that happened would have done so.

"I hold the mental health trust solely responsible. I am taking legal advice"

Lessons to learn

Speaking after her son pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Hull Crown Court, she expressed her deepest sympathy to Miss Stevenson's family and said the "terrible tragedy" had caused shock and heartbreak.

The judge said Benjamin Holiday was "clearly very disturbed"

Holiday, a paranoid schizophrenic, was sentenced to be detained in a secure hospital.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE called on the trust to ensure the findings of its report were made public.

She said: "We would wish to ensure the inquiry is fully independent and the findings made public so that lessons can be learnt. We are fully in favour of an external inquiry in such cases."

A spokesman for the trust said the inquiry would be carried out by North and East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority and the findings would be made public at the end of the investigation.

The senior police officer in the case, Det Supt Ray Higgins, described Holiday as a "dangerous and troubled man".

He said: "He undoubtedly had significant mental health problems and his involvement in this incident is a tragedy for both him and his family, who have tried so hard to help and support him throuh his illness."

After Mis Stevenson's death, her boyfriend, Hehdi Rahman Saleh, described her as a "lovely girl" and said their two-year relationship was "full of laughter".