£500,000 for seeing a killing

An Oxford graduate who witnessed her brother stab their mother to death has won a record payout for mental trauma of about £500,000.

Christina Kopernik-Steckel, 27, has been awarded the psychiatric injury payment in an outofcourt settlement with the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, which had been responsible for her brother Gilbert's welfare when he suffered a mental breakdown five years ago.

Mr Kopernik-Steckel, a 33-year-old architect, committed suicide in January 1996 after stabbing his mother Suzanne, 57, to death at her home in South Norwood.

In the two days before the attacks, he had twice admitted himself voluntarily to a psychiatric hospital. However, on each occasion he had been allowed to leave, even though staff recognised he was a potential danger, according to an independent inquiry four years ago.

The trust has now admitted liability and agreed the settlement two weeks before the case was due to go to court.

Ms Kopernik-Steckel has suffered post traumatic stress disorder and depression since witnessing the attack and, despite an array of qualifications including a 2.1 degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University, has been unable to work.