Stabbed girl's funeral this week

The funeral of a 16-year-old girl stabbed to death on her way to school will take place later this week.

The service in memory of Christina Edkins will be held at Birmingham's St Philip's Cathedral on Friday afternoon, church officials have confirmed.

Christina, a pupil at Leasowes High School in Halesowen, died after suffering a stab wound to the chest on the top deck of a bus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Thursday March 7.

Phillip Simelane, 22, has been charged with murdering Christina, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Simelane, from Walsall, was remanded in custody at Birmingham Crown Court last Friday and will next appear at the same court for a plea hearing on May 31.