China girl, 14, fatally stabbed over 20 times by 'jealous' classmate

A 14-year-old girl in Shenzhen, China, was stabbed to death by her classmate at the doorstep of her home.

The 14-year-old boy, surnamed Zhong, who had been getting rides from the victim's father to school for three years, fled the scene after the stabbing in April.

He was later arrested and charged with intentional homicide, according to Chinese media.

The case was heard by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court on Oct. 15.

The verdict will be announced at a later date.

Stabbed her outside her home

Municipal prosecutors said in their submissions that the victim, surnamed Pan, as well as Zhong and another boy, Chen, were third-year students of the same middle school in the Longhua district of Shenzhen, Xiaoxiang Morning News reported.

As all three stayed in the same residential complex, the fathers of Pan and Chen would take turns to ferry them to and from school.

They did so for about three years.

On Apr. 8, after Chen's father dropped them off at the gate of the complex, Pan and Chen turned left and took the same road home, while Zhong turned right to go home.

However, when Zhong saw that Pan was alone, he approached her and took out a folding knife he had bought online.

He then stabbed her multiple times, continuing to do so after she fell on the ground, prosecutors said.

As Zhong ran off, Pan cried for help.

Hearing this, he returned, knelt on her, and stabbed her in the neck a few times.

Lied that he was injured saving someone

After that, Zhong fled the scene and discarded the knife, said prosecutors.

Zhong had reportedly stabbed her over 20 times, according to Hong Kong news outlet Sing Tao Daily, citing mainland China sources.

He went home and lied to his family that he had been slashed on his hands during an act of heroism.

Zhong's parents posted in a group chat, "My son was injured while saving someone and is currently in the hospital," Sing Tao Daily reported.

The property management subsequently called the police.

An ambulance was called for Pan, but despite receiving medical treatment, she did not survive.

Zhong was apprehended in the hospital the next day.

An autopsy found that Pan had died from severe blood loss as a result of multiple stab wounds to the chest, back and the area below her left collarbone.

Kowtowed in court for mercy

Prosecutors charged Zhong with intentional homicide and alleged that he caused Pan's death over dissatisfaction with "trivial" matters.

Pan's mother suspected that Zhong was jealous of her daughter's academic success.

Pan's mother said the court heard that before the killing, Zhong was found to have searched up on the penalties for killing someone at the age of 14, Xiaoxiang Morning News reported.

She said that she and her lawyer asked for the death penalty for Zhong, noting that Zhong has not expressed remorse for killing her daughter.

When the death penalty was brought up in court, Zhong kowtowed and begged for mercy, she said.

According to Pan's mother, the defence argued that Zhong had offended because he was bullied in school.

But the teachers and classmates who testified all said Zhong was the bully, she said.

Pan's mother also claimed that Zhong's family has not reached out to them since the incident to apologise despite having their contact details, Qilu Evening News reported.

The case is still before the courts.

Top image from Chinese media