AN Ilford man accused of killing a schoolgirl is said to be too ill to attend court after trying to kill himself.

Thomas Nugusse, 22, of St Francis Way, was charged with the murder of 15-year-old Arsema Dawit, who was found with multiple stab wounds in the lift of a block of flats near Waterloo station last year.

A jury will be asked to decide if Nugusse, who was charged with the girl's murder but is said to be unfit to plead, can be found guilty of the attack.

He has been detained in a psychiatric hospital since attempting suicide two weeks after Miss Dawit's death.