Woman, 24, fatally stabbed 13 times while video-calling her mum in China

A 24-year-old woman was fatally stabbed 13 times by a man while on her way home from work in Hebei, China, on Feb. 26.

The woman, Zhou Yi, a kindergarten teacher, was on her usual route back to her accommodation in Langfang city around 8pm, Chinese media reported.

While walking, she was talking to her mother, who was living separately, over video call.

On May 22, Zhou's mother gave an emotional interview with Chinese media company Jimu News to recount the incident from her perspective.

She said she was on the phone with her daughter about celebrating International Women's Day together that weekend when she saw her daughter's face suddenly turn terrified.

Zhou Yi yelled, "I'll give you, I'll give you."

The woman then screamed for help, her mother recalled.

The mother, who was panicking, called her elder daughter who was also living in Langfang.

By the time the elder daughter reached the scene, Zhou Yi had already passed on.

Suspect diagnosed with schizophrenia

On May 23, the local public security bureau in Langfang announced that a 33-year-old male suspect was arrested over the incident.

According to the official statement, the suspect displayed abnormal behaviour and spoke incoherently, prompting the bureau to arrange for a professional psychiatric evaluation.

The evaluation diagnosed the suspect as schizophrenic and said he had no criminal responsibility at the time of the incident.

He has since been transferred to a psychiatric hospital for treatment under supervision.

Zhou Yi's family has requested for the suspect's mental state to be re-evaluated.

In her interview with the media, Zhou Yi's mother said she learnt that, after stabbing her daughter, the suspect had gone home to shower and clean the weapon.

Judging from these actions, she believed that he was thinking and acting coherently.

The case is still under further investigation.

Top images from Jimu News and Zhou Yi's mother's Douyin