A man who stabbed his two young daughters and son to death at their home in the Qamariya district of Taif Thursday has a medical record with the Taif Mental Hospital dating back 10 years, sources have revealed. The 40-year-old man told investigators Friday that it was a “crime of compassion” after his wife, who left their home two months earlier, had called him demanding custody of the children. The unnamed man, who uses crutches to walk following a motor accident earlier this year, said his wife left him after he tried to kill her but failed because of his disability. Arguments arose between the couple when he was forced into early retirement by the accident. Siham, 6, Ra'id, 5, and 5-month old Lamees received between them 15 stab wounds from their father who subsequently contacted the authorities and waited for police to arrive. Sources said the killings took place in the courtyard of the family home, where Ra'id was repeatedly stabbed in the chest, followed by his daughter Siham who attempted to escape after a first stabbing and was then stabbed in the neck, and finally five-month old Lamees. Psychiatrist Dr. Ahmad Al-Hariri said Thursday that the incident showed strong signs of mental disorder, “possibly schizophrenia”.
