THE family of paranoid schizophrenic Phillip Simelane, who killed Christina Edkins after a long history of disturbing behaviour, have also responded to the investigation into her death.

Simelane’s mother had previously called the police 21 times since he was 14-years after various incidents including holding a knife to her stomach and threatening to kill her.

Despite being the subject of warnings on the Police National Computer about weapons, violence, self-harm and suicide and being seen by professional mental health experts in prison he was not put in a secure ward but released onto the streets to kill.

This is the Simelane family statement.

"A young life is lost, another ruined. Two families left with wounds. Our heart goes out to the other grieving family.

An incident that could have been avoided has changed our lives in a tremendous way.

Having read the heart touching report, we wonder if it will change anything in the future or is it just a paper exercise meant to put our hearts at peace for little while.

Our son was discriminated against by the system that was put in place to protect him. The mother’s cry was not heard or taken into consideration until innocent lives were impacted upon - one totally destroyed, the other changed in a significant way forever (His future is only in God’s mercy).

Yet again we hear the same rhetoric: “lessons have been learnt”. We hope one day the systems will change, but who will make it happen?

This is a question left unanswered; in the meantime more lives are destroyed and lost, families broken with no one to put back the pieces (through God’s help we will rise from the ashes in faith).

We make a heartfelt plea to the Government to take measures to ensure corrective systems and procedures are put in place immediately to prevent the continued re occurrence of these tragic incidents.

We also plead with the Government or parliament to sincerely look into changes that need to be put in place to prevent losing lives and the destruction of our children’s future.

At this moment in time the family would like to request everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time."

The 25-year-old was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained without a time limit in a secure psychiatric hospital.