Family of Christina Edkins heartbroken after trinkets stolen from memorial stone

The disappearance of the eight trinkets was reported to police by family members in July and an investigation by police was launched.

This week, officers released a CCTV image of a woman who they want to identify over the disappearance of the jewellery.

Christina died after she was stabbed on the top deck of a bus while on her way to school in March last year. She was aged 16.

Her father Jason Edkins, said: "We as a family are still trying to come to terms with the fact that every morning we wake up and our daughter or sister won't be there.

"All we have left is our precious memories, photos and our stories of the 16 years and two weeks she spent in our life.

"We also now have a headstone and plot where we can take flowers and little trinkets to make it look as beautiful as Christina was.

"So, you can imagine how heartbroken and shocked we were to discover that someone had taken eight things off her plot in July.

"They weren't of much value in money but they were very meaningful to us as they were brought not only by us but our extended family and Christina's school friends.

"Our heartbreak turned to anger when we saw the woman on the CCTV taking them away. We would just like to know why."

The CCTV still was taken at Birmingham Crematorium in Perry Barr on July 6 and shows a woman in a purple top walking with a white dog.

Inspector Karen Geddes said: "Christina's family are of course devastated by what's happened because the items have a great deal of sentimental significance.

"It's difficult to try and understand why someone would want to remove them because they have little monetary value, but our primary aim is to try and get them back so they can be returned to the memorial, where they belong.

"I would ask anyone who recognises the woman in the image to come forward and let us know who she is by giving us a call or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously.

"If you are the person in the CCTV, then I would ask you directly to please get in touch so that we can resolve the matter."

Christina was attacked by Philip Simelane, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to an indeterminate hospital order.

He had been released from prison unsupervised prior the attack.

As well as the memorial stone in Birmingham, there is also a stone at Leasowes School in Halesowen, where she attended.

See also: Mother of Christina Edkins' killer speaks of her grief.