Bloodbath school sued

A SOUTHEAST China primary school has been brought to court for poor management after eight children were killed and five others injured in a doctor's slashing spree in front of the school in March.

A local court heard the case filed by parents of six of the victims yesterday against the Nanping Experimental Elementary School in Fujian Province's Nanping City, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

Zheng Minsheng, 42, the killer doctor, was executed in April.

Each of the eight bereaved families had received 290,000 yuan (US$42,500) in compensation.

Parents insisted at the court that the school bears responsibility because of poor operating procedures, their lawyer Hao Jingsong said.

The school opens and allows pupils' entry at 7:30 every morning, only 10 minutes before the first class session begins, causing throngs of pupils and their parents to gather outside.

When the attack occurred, up to 300 people were gathered outside the school, making it difficult to disperse during the emergency and resulting in such big casualties, he added.

Zheng slashed 13 pupils in 55 seconds.

Zheng, a former community doctor, carried out his heinous crime on March 23 at the school gates and later showed no remorse.