Man stabs schoolgirl to death

ROI ET: A 14-year-old schoolgirl was stabbed to death in front of shocked students and teachers in Muang district yesterday by a man who had just got out of prison, police say.

The killing took place in front of Ban Lao Witthayakan School in tambon Nong Kaeo at about 8am. The attacker was a man who had followed the victim’s school bus on his motorcycle.

When the bus stopped in front of the school, he got on the vehicle and stabbed the girl once with a kitchen knife. He then dragged her off the bus, sat on her and stabbed her twice more. Teachers overpowered the man. However, the girl was later pronounced dead at Roi Et Hospital.

Pol Capt Sanchart Sawatpol from Muang Roi Et police station identified the 36-year-old attacker as Preecha Waisorn, adding the girl had been stabbed in the neck and chest.

The suspect had conflicts with the girl’s parents and had a record of suffering from mental illness, according to Pol Maj Gen Achayon Kraithong, a police spokesman.

School director, Laddawan Suebjit, said the incident happened very fast, adding the man rushed onto the bus as soon as it had stopped and while teachers were welcoming students to school.

Classes were cancelled yesterday following the killing, while school officials said they plan to review security measures. Eyewitnesses said the attacker shouted that he would kill the girl’s entire family.

Police said he had been freed from prison three days previously but did not give further details.

Pol Col Sirasan Yuen-sanguanchai, deputy chief of Roi Et police, said police were looking to find out more about why Mr Preecha targeted the girl.