[News Today] Suspect in teen girl’s murder detained

[LEAD]

A 24-year-old man surnamed Jang has been arrested for brutally murdering a female high school student on her way home, and attacking a male student who came to help.

Jang apologized to the victim, but insisted the killing was not planned.

[REPORT]

A 24-year-old suspect surnamed Jang appears in court donning a hood and a mask.

He said he has committed an unforgivable crime, referring to the murder of a high school girl he did not even know. However, he denied it was a premeditated crime.

Jang / Suspect

I didn’t know she was a schoolgirl. [Wasn’t it premeditated?] No, it wasn’t.

The court has issued a detention warrant for Jang, citing the risk of flight.

Jang keeps on telling the police that he was going to die anyway, as life had no meaning for him, and just wanted to take someone with him.

However, there is enough evidence to presume it was a premeditated crime, because the suspect roamed the streets with a weapon starting two days before the crime, and said he killed the girl the third time he encountered her after seeing her two times previously.

Police plan to conduct a forensic analysis of Jang's mobile phone and a psychopathy assessment for antisocial personality disorder.

Meanwhile, the funeral for the victim, who wanted to become an emergency rescue worker, has been held amid cries from her devastated family.

How can we let her go?

Members of the public are mourning the girl's death by placing white chrysanthemums and yellow ribbons with messages at the site of the tragedy.