3 MISSED CHANCES TO STOP SIS KILLER
Medics accused of blunders which allowed suicidal knifeman to leave mental health unit and attack family
A MAN walked free from a mental health unit then killed his sister and himself after a series of “missed opportunities” by hospital staff, a jury has ruled.
Melvin James, 36, also repeatedly stabbed his mum Lynette, 59, after “severe delusions” that he was a Transformers robot.
An inquest heard that as he plunged the knife into his mother, she told him: “I love you, son.”
His sister Anne-Marie, 33, suf fered 17 stab wounds. James knifed himself at least 80 times.
Returning a narrative verdict, the jury highlighted failings at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and NHS Lothian.
The jury’s foreman said: “There were three missed opportunities. The first was the level of detail given between hospital staff and family.
“The second was communication between staff and family had not been documented fully.
“The third was no followup care discussed.”
Lynette survived the attack in her f lat in Wolverhampton on March 8 after locking herself in a bedroom and dialling 999.
Police had to repeatedly tTaser 6ft 3in James, who kept moving towards them “saturated” in blood, still holding a knife.
He had been living in Edinburgh, where he was sectioned on February 2.
Police had found him walking around by himself. He intended to go all the way to the Midlands to see his family.
They took him to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, where he expressed “incredibly strange and concerning thoughts” and was diagnosed with drug induced psychosis.
He spoke of being a Transformers robot and claimed his dad was the character Optimus Prime from the sci-fi films. Leon James said he had received repeated calls from his brother saying Anne-Marie and their mother were in danger from Transformers bad guy Megatron.
James also spoke about being controlled by a clown and voiced “unusual” beliefs about Donald Trump, Adolf Hitler and the Illuminati.
He was sectioned but released after 72 hours when his condition improved. He returned to Wolverhampton, where he carried out the attacks.
Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique said: “Given the jury’s findings in particular relation to the lack of communication and documentation when he was discharged, it does raise concerns about the discharge policy.
“I am going to write a report on the concerns raised and there is an internal investigation as well.”
Jacquie Campbell, chief officer for acute services at NHS Lothian, said: “We will welcome the coroner’s report and will respond to his findings and recommendations.
“We will take al l necessary actions to improve our services.”